Illinois Sends Contingent to Federal Advocacy Conference
Illinois will be well represented at the COSSBA Federal Advocacy Conference, September 21-23 in Washington, D.C. This year, IASB will have its largest group ever, with more than 40 members representing all 17 of Illinois’ Congressional districts. Federal Advocacy Conference programming will include Congressional staff and other panels, news on federal education initiatives, and a keynote address by television journalist Judy Woodruff. Capitol Hill visits are scheduled for participants to meet with their Members of Congress and advocate for public education. 

Showcase Student Talents on a National Stage
COSSBA is inviting schools to showcase outstanding student talent at the 2027 National Conference in Dallas, Texas. This is a unique opportunity for students to represent their districts and share their creativity and excellence with education leaders from across the country. Selected groups will perform during both the Unified Boards Alliance (UBA) Preconference Day on March 11, 2027, and the National Conference, taking place March 12–14, 2027. Submission details are available on the COSSBA website. 

Share Expertise and Inspire Public Education Leaders
COSSBA is also seeking engaging, solutions-focused presentations that provide attendees with practical ideas and actionable strategies for its 2027 COSSBA National Conference or the Unified Boards Alliance (UBA) Preconference Day, taking place March 11-14, 2027, in Dallas, Texas. Attendees at the annual national conference are school board members, superintendents, district leaders, state association staff, and education partners from across the country.

COSSBA welcomes proposals on topics including governance, leadership, advocacy, finance, school safety, AI, student achievement, and other issues shaping public education. The UBA Preconference Day seeks presentations focused on strengthening school board governance to improve student success by addressing barriers that impact learning and sharing proven strategies that create opportunities for every student to thrive.

The Call for Proposals is open on the COSSBA website. The submission deadline is September 28, 2026, and notifications will be sent in December.

Webinar: Federal Court Decisions and Pending Court Cases
COSSBA is presenting a federal government relations webinar on August 19. The Federal Court Wrap-Up webinar will offer a clear overview of significant federal court cases affecting schools and school governance, along with practical insights into what those rulings mean for school board members and district leaders. It is presented by Jonathan Mayes of Bose McKinney & Evans LLP, chair of the Education Law Group and a partner in the Labor and Employment Law Group. Register to join COSSBA for the Federal Court Wrap-Up webinar on August 19 at 1 p.m. Central Time.

September will bring the second in a series of webinars around student online behavior and how school districts can keep students safe. COSSBA has partnered with Safer Schools Together to provide these quarterly webinars at no cost to members. The next Current Online Behavioral Trends and Updates webinar will take place on September 9 at 10 a.m. Central Time.

COSSBA webinars help school leaders stay informed about the decisions shaping public education and what they could mean for your district and community. Select past webinars are available for on-demand viewing.

COSSBA Partners with NREA to Expand Opportunity and Advocacy
COSSBA is partnering with the National Rural Education Association to strengthen advocacy for rural public education, share resources and expertise, and expand collaboration. The NREA is an organization of rural school administrators, teachers, board members, regional service agency personnel, researchers, business and industry representatives, and others interested in maintaining the vitality of rural school systems across the country.