The 2026 NSBA Advocacy Institute brought together hundreds of school board members and education leaders in Washington, D.C., for a powerful two-day mobilization. From the opening call to action by NSBA Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, the message was clear: advocacy is a fundamental responsibility of local governance.
Attendees gained an "insider’s edge" through exclusive briefings with bipartisan congressional staff and learned to navigate the nuances of "good conflict" with keynote speaker Amanda Ripley. The Institute served as a vital platform for honing our 2026 legislative priorities, ensuring that every advocate left equipped with the tools necessary to make a lasting impact on Capitol Hill.
During our awards luncheon and partnership with the Center for Digital Education, we recognized forward-thinking districts for their excellence in AI-supported literacy tools and cybersecurity, and we celebrated education leaders whose strategic visions have successfully integrated AI and data-driven governance into their districts to enhance student outcomes. We also welcomed Dr. Joseph Allen, Director of Harvard’s Healthy Buildings Program, who shared compelling research on how school facilities directly influence student health, thinking, and performance. His insights reminded us that maintaining healthy indoor environments is not just a facilities issue, but a critical foundation for academic achievement. Inspired by these examples of innovation and the remarks of elected officials like Senator Ed Markey, our members were equipped for meeting on Capitol Hill with confidence.
The event concluded with a powerful display of unity as McCotter-Jacobs invited every attendee to join her on stage to lock arms as she encouraged them to be the "champions our students deserve." By bridging the gap between local classroom impact and federal policy, we can ensure the voices of 50 million public school students are heard by the nation’s decision-makers. As we look ahead to NSBA's Annual Conference in San Antonio, we carry forward this momentum—ready to be bold, relentless, and unwavering.