Beginning July 1: AWSA to Affiliate with the National Principals Association

AWSA has always operated as a single, unified PK–12 association. At the national level, however, school leader support has long been split between two organizations: the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). While both have contributed meaningful work, this divided structure has created challenges for states like ours that operate as a unified PK–12 body.

For decades, AWSA has worked with our state affiliate colleagues across the country to strongly encourage the national associations to collaborate as much as possible, especially with advocacy, conferences, and recognition events.  For example, in 2017, AWSA joined numerous state affiliates in formally requesting the nationals hold a joint convention.  Over the last few years, NAESP and NASSP have held joint advocacy events and a national conference.  However, this is coming to an end, and both will hold separate advocacy events and conferences.

The lack of cooperation between NAESP and NASSP has been a barrier to strong, strategic, state and national collaboration in support of school principals.  In short, if the national conversation is focused on whether or not the nationals will hold joint events year after year, it crowds out the space for collaboration with the state affiliates on strengthening the profession.

As a result, PK–12 states have expressed interest in a national association that mirrors the way we work here in Wisconsin: one national voice representing all school leaders across the entire PK–12 continuum. With all of this in mind, AWSA has invited both NAESP and NASSP to reply to a request for information about the possibility of serving as the sole PK-12 national affiliate for Wisconsin school leaders in the future. 

In September, AWSA surveyed members who also belong to NAESP or NASSP, and the majority supported this approach, as indicated in responses to the following key question:
How supportive are you with AWSA exploring our future relationship with both NAESP and NASSP, including asking both associations to respond to requests for information about becoming AWSA’s sole PK-12 national affiliate?

51% Very Supportive
29% Supportive
16% No Opinion
2% Unsupportive
2% Very Unsupportive
(46 of 662 national members responded)

Both NAESP and NASSP have since responded, and AWSA now has the opportunity to “disaffiliate” with NASSP and NAESP and affiliate with one organization as our sole national affiliate, which will: 

• rebrand with a new PK-12 national name (National Principals Association); 
• welcome all PK-12 administrators to join; 
• ensure that legal benefits through our previous affiliation with both NASSP and NAESP are maintained; 
• provide equal representation at a governing level of elementary, middle, and high school administrators; 
• offer awards programs for elementary, middle, and high school administrators; 
• and promote a collaborative relationship with state affiliates to provide strong support for school leaders and a strong unified national voice.

To meet this opportunity, NASSP recently voted to transition into a new PK–12 National Principals Association (NPA) — a unified national organization designed to serve principals at every grade level.  NAESP has chosen to remain K–8, which does not align with our aspirations for one united PK–12 association. After careful discussion, we plan on affiliating with the new National Principals Association (NPA) beginning July 1, 2026.

Here is what this will mean for Wisconsin school leaders:

1. Benefits and coverage remain the same.

2. We gain a national partner structured the same way Wisconsin is structured.

One unified association strengthens visibility, advocacy, and influence.

3. Elementary, Middle and High School leadership are all central to new NPA.

The new PK–12 National Principals Association is being designed intentionally to include elementary, middle, and high school representation in its governance, recognition programs, and advocacy work. 

4. AWSA Members Can Choose What National Association to Belong To

Until now, AWSA members could renew their NASSP or NAESP dues every year when they renewed their AWSA membership.  Beginning this year, members will be able to renew their membership with the National Principals Association through AWSA or another association directly through that association’s website.

Earlier this month, we shared our tentative plan for affiliating with the National Principals Association (NPA) and asked members for their feedback/questions.  Of the twenty-four responses received twenty-two were supportive of aligning with the NPA, and all of the feedback was helpful as we implement this change.

Earlier today we sent letters to NAESP and NASSP communicating our plans.

Moving Forward

The AWSA staff will be working closely with the staff of the National Principals Association to both successfully implement this transition and develop the systems that will foster strategic collaboration and continuous improvement moving forward.  AWSA and NPA will be working with other PK-12 state associations that have also decided to affiliate solely with NPA including Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Washington.