The Wednesday Exhibit Hall Lunch provides a great opportunity to network with colleagues and enjoy all that the exhibit hall has to offer! Visit exhibitors to learn how they can serve the unique needs of your school and stop by the CCSA booth to learn more about the important work of the Association. Meet and network with other attendees all while enjoying lunch!

Experienced charter school attorneys Greta Proctor and Wendy Tucker will discuss the important topics of the day. Join the conversation and get to know Greta and Wendy as they discuss current legal issues, problems and solutions, and answer your questions, unrehearsed.

California, home to more than 1,300 charter schools and 685,000 students, faces the challenge of fostering a sustainable pipeline of qualified educators and administrators. Alliant International University actively collaborates with charter schools, providing comprehensive support from new teacher credentialing to seasoned administrator development. Our commitment centers on delivering quality, equitable education and promoting inclusivity within the Alliant community. Join Teacher Education Program Director, Dr. Tatiana Rivadeneyra to discuss establishing partnerships that are mutually beneficial and accountable.

Enrolling and filling your school is critical and more challenging with more competitors over the past years. This session will give attendees real-life best practices and examples of branding, messaging, targeting and customer journey that helped increase enrollments significantly for Legacy Traditional Schools and other clients across Arizona, Texas and Nevada with several campuses doubling in enrollments over the past few years.

Learn how School Pathways’ SIS Suite helps CA charter schools create the best possibilities for each of their students while also easing administrative burdens for educators. School Pathways’ SIS Suite has all the essential features plus charter-catered additions like enrollment management (application & lottery, online registration), seamless CALPADS reporting, independent study compliance, custom forms and surveys builder, and personalized customer support. Join us to learn more about streamlining student applications, school lotteries, and enrollment operations, simplifying CALPADS submissions and state compliance, enhancing virtual and personalized learning environments, and more.

The school tour is a pivotal but often overlooked step in the enrollment process. In this practical session, we'll leverage insights from a professional secret shopper who has evaluated over 100 school tours across the nation. Discover the essential elements of an effective school tour that can transform prospective families from passive interest to active enrollment. We’ll cut through the fluff and provide you with actionable strategies to enhance your school tour experience. Learn how to make your school tour a powerful asset that attracts and enrolls families.

California Department of Education (CDE) staff from the Analysis, Measurement & Accountability Reporting Division (AMARD) and the Charter Schools Division (CSD), as well as San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) will share and present information about the recently released Charter School Performance Category Data File and the Authorizer Almanac. Learn all about the California School Dashboard and how it informs the Performance Categories, as determined by the criteria outlined in AB 1505, as well as what CDE has been doing to improve authorizer oversight by developing resources in consultation with CCSA and other organizations.

(Sourced by CCSA staff member, Julie Umansky) Join us for an informative presentation on "Charting Compliance: Navigating California Wage and Hour Laws for Charter Schools." In this engaging session, we will delve into the intricate landscape of wage and hour regulations specific to charter schools operating in the state of California. Our expert presenters will guide you through the essential components of California's wage and hour laws, equipping charter school administrators with the knowledge and tools needed to ensure legal compliance and limit risk of exposure to wage claims.

There has never been a more challenging time to be an educator. Staff wellness, belonging, and mental health directly affect student achievement, family satisfaction, and staff retention. Schools must prioritize being intentional in creating a welcoming, safe, and healthy environment for staff. Please join our team to learn how to build a custom wellness framework that engages staff to identify wellness needs, monitors staff well-being, builds structures to include proactive and responsive supports, and develops community partnerships to support staff’s mental health needs.

Building a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) begins with a shared vision for student success. Join us in uncovering strategies to inspire all stakeholders to develop the necessary mindset to shift MTSS from a checklist to a way of being. Participants will understand the transformative potential of MTSS for holistic school improvement and uncover strategies to ensure MTSS is intrinsically woven into everyday practice through a strong tier 1 promise--a shared understanding of how your school supports all students.

This session examines the crucial relationship between student data and school financials by examining how student information directly impacts your budget and funding. We will explore several ways in which student data influences financial decisions, resource allocation, and funding distribution, and we’ll dive deep into some of the costliest mistakes that are also the easiest to make. By understanding the intersection, participants will be informed and empowered to make better-informed decisions for their schools and their students.

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the positive impact of dual enrollment programs on first-generation and Latino students. They will leave with actionable insights into the benefits and transformative potential of the dual enrollment program. Additionally, participants will receive practical tips and strategies for establishing and promoting a robust dual enrollment program at their respective educational institutions from a seasoned Title I college counselor.

Participants in this session will gain a deep understanding of the strategies and practices implemented to create an equitable student culture. By the end of the session, attendees will be able to: Identify key components of a successful inclusive education model. Explain the importance of ELD support and its impact on English Language Learners. Discuss the benefits of offering Advanced Placement (AP) courses to all students. Analyze the steps taken to eliminate gatekeepers and promote equitable access to opportunities. Explore innovative intervention and enrichment activities that bridge achievement gaps.

Secure the future of your organization by mastering the art and legal compliance of effective leadership succession. This workshop provides a roadmap for a smooth transition, equipping you with the tools to prepare for the changeover in leadership. Led by legal and industry experts, we'll cover legal compliance, strategic planning, and key timelines. Gain actionable insights to mitigate risks and ensure organizational continuity. Whether you're an executive or a board member, this workshop is your blueprint for sustaining success. Don't leave your organization's future to chance.

Interest rates continue to climb, borrowing restrictions have increased and ESSER dollars will run out. But not all is doom and gloom. The good news is structuring the best conditions for your financing is achievable if you follow the steps discussed with this experienced panel of California experts, including a charter school leader, S&P analyst, California charter school lender, a leading charter school fiduciary, and a national non-profit lender to discuss clear strategies and tactics for single-site schools and small networks to successfully finance facility growth.

Discover how we leveraged three years of intentional collaboration to dramatically improve learning experiences, environments, and outcomes for students at the intersection of race, class, and ability. Explore promising research-based practices showing evidence of impact for students positioned furthest from opportunity, applying insights to your community contexts. This dynamic session unveils our nationwide journey to identify and address academic gaps for Black and Latinx students with disabilities experiencing poverty. Discover the strides we've made in closing these gaps and gain actionable insights to drive equitable progress in your communities.

AC/DC said it: leadership is hard and you can’t do it alone! Leader-driven cohorts are a proven way to sustain and develop leaders while combating executive isolation, deepening connections, and sharing knowledge and resources with like-minded peers. Our leaders will facilitate mini-communities of practice in real-time and demonstrate how to create communities focused on building relationships, capacity, and regional momentum. Attendees will leave this session with a common understanding of the benefit of collaborative learning and how to develop communities of practice in their region.

Whether you are borrowing cash or sitting on a pile of it, cash management has never been so important! How can your school borrow money more cheaply? How can your organization invest extra money safely? How can you earn a reasonable rate of return while meeting compliance requirements? Join us for an interactive session to talk cash strategies and pitfalls with finance and banking experts and learn from school leaders using strategies that work in this economic climate.

Does your Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) feel like an unwieldy beast that needs to be tamed? Join EdTec's LCAP experts for concise tips on pitfalls to avoid and guidance on new requirements. Presenters will share lessons learned from 2021-24 and work together with participants to identify areas to revise. Participants will also learn how to sharpen the plan’s focus on supporting their school’s highest need student groups. This workshop is perfect for all school leaders involved with the LCAP. Bring your LCAP and leave with actionable next steps!

Steve Rees, author of "Mismeasuring Schools Vital Signs," helps school and district leaders avoid the pitfalls that await those making sense of their school's data. Whether you're interpreting achievement gaps, graduation rates or test results, you're at risk of reaching a mistaken judgment. By learning about common errors and how they're made, you'll be ready to choose safer, surer paths to making better sense of the wealth of data in your school. This book will help educators build better evidence, see conclusions more clearly, and explain the data more persuasively. This session will specifically focus on a sensible way to estimate growth in student learning. It is based on CAASPP results, and frames results in a comparative context of highly similar students. Because charter schools under current AB1505 renewal law are now able to work with authorizers to build and view evidence you both agree upon, you have a degree of freedom from the Dashboard. Take advantage of this freedom. This session will also touch on the logical and arithmetic flaws that make the Dashboard a broken interpreter of schools' vital signs. Want more learning? Purchase a signed copy of "Mismeasuring Schools Vital Signs" at the CCSA Booth Wed. March 20 between 4-5pm.

This session is a space to workshop a component of your organization's plan to create an org culture that is inclusive, spacious, joyful AND impactful in a way that is sustainable.

As one-time federal and state Covid relief funding ends, school leaders must decide where to invest and where to trim the budget. Benchmarking your school against comparative organizations is an essential part of the budgeting process. In this session, EdTec's finance experts will share benchmarking data to help your school develop a sustainable long-term budget. Learn key metrics and questions to ask as we transition to a new normal without one-time funding. This session is intended for school leaders, finance and operations staff, and board members.

In this workshop, participants will explore how the establishment of a dedicated social committee can contribute to nurturing a vibrant and inclusive staff culture through sharing practical strategies and success stories. Participants will feel empowered with the knowledge and inspiration to build stronger staff relationships, foster a sense of community by ultimately elevating workplace satisfaction and productivity. This session is available to anyone interested in starting a social committee within their organization. Come to learn and leave inspired!

Charter schools must carefully navigate challenges and opportunities for growth: New petitions vs. "material" revisions, “community interests” and "fiscal impact," declining enrollment, available space, and so on. Participants will learn effective real-world strategies to prepare for, process, and obtain approval and increase their understanding of the nuances between factual, legal, and political considerations. This interactive session will explore various challenges and provide expert observations and strategies for success. We will also discuss issues raised by participants.

This session will show how a close brush with closure led one organization, serving mostly poor students of color, to completely overhaul its governance, finances, facilities, and compliance, as well as improving its instructional program. This session will offer schools across the state a preview of what aggressive declining enrollment authorizers will do to close schools. and a pathway forward for schools trying to overcome that push. It will also showcase how important a stable leadership team and board can overcome massive hurdles, and turn around systems-challenged schools.

We continue to see a large number of special education cases arising out of the pandemic years. This session will review due process, state and federal court special education decisions from the last year to mine the lessons learned and to inform Charter School best practices. Attendees will take away lessons from special education cases to implement improvements at schools to minimize exposure to liability.

WASC’s streamlined approach to the Self-Study will assist schools in taking a deeper dive into data analysis and what is important and relevant in moving the academic and social emotional program forward. Liz will give examples of how to streamline the report for it to be a reflective process which will show strengths and areas of growth as it relates to all aspects of a learning community. Liz will give examples of how to use technology within the Self-Study and during the in person, hybrid or virtual visit.

In this session, participants will view curated clips from a forthcoming feature documentary film titled A School Grows in Watts, which profiles the Watts Learning Center and its wholly community-based approach to elementary education. Using the clips as guidance and inspiration, participants will discuss the systemic obstacles that may face students from South LA, and a school’s work to identify and address unique needs that arise. Further discussions will explore models and learning tools that center on: celebrating achievement and legacy for black and brown students; reimagining the narrative for a misunderstood community through creating agents of social change in the classroom; supporting parents.

Springs was recognized in the 2023 Credo Report as a "gap-busting" school network, one of 32 California Charter School networks closing the achievement gaps for students! At Springs, we built collaborative teams to identify high-yield practices, establish schoolwide initiatives around those practices, and support implementation through a mentoring and monitoring process. These initiatives address Tier 1-3 with strategies and resources for first best instruction and interventions. Attendees will learn about Springs’ journey to increase student achievement and leave with steps to start the process in their schools.

In CA, charter schools continue to attract more Latino families. In contrast, Latino leadership in the charter space is not reflective of the families exercising their choice. In this workshop, we will hear from Latino leaders and they will break down strategies to engage and retain Latino leaders and address the talent pipeline issues we are facing statewide. Leaving this session, leaders will be able to assess their own organizations, the gap in leadership they should address and viable tactics to address in their next year’s talent strategy.

There are more initiatives than ever, yet the gaps persist & students continue to struggle. How much has really changed since the pandemic? Get your school and students off the ‘intervention treadmill’ and make actual progress in closing students’ academic gaps. Find out about our rotation model that has produced phenomenal results… even with first-year teachers.

Almost everything you think you know about Boards is wrong and it's holding your school back. Join us to reimagine how you recruit a Board that reflects your community and align staff and Board efforts to advance your mission. Participants will: 1) challenge assumptions about Boards; 2) explore how to build a Board that reflects your community; 3) create better alignment between your mission and the Board; 4) develop an action plan to transform your board into exactly what you need and want.

The National Education Equity Lab’s College in High School model brings actual college courses from top colleges and HBCUs to low-income high school students in California and in 30 other states across the country. The Ed Equity Lab team and Birmingham Community Charter High School will share the impact of this program and what all schools can learn from a model that puts high expectations in action and helps students see and experience their ability to navigate the postsecondary world. You will leave this session understanding the impact that access can have on students and with guiding questions to bring back to your school for your own planning.

Unlock the secret to charter school longevity by fortifying your relationship with your chartering authority. Join this must-attend workshop featuring seasoned charter school leaders and authorizing experts for a dynamic discussion on operationalizing best practices. We'll start by demystifying legal compliance and then delve into actionable strategies for building trust and fostering transparent, respectful relationships. Not only will you grasp the latest compliance expectations but you'll also gain collaborative insights. Don't miss this game-changing opportunity to secure your school's future.

For experts and beginners alike, this session is geared to cover the myriad issues in charter teacher credentialing. We'll discuss types of California credentials including emergency permits and waivers. We'll also spend time discussing local assignment options charter schools can effectively utilize to get coverage in classrooms, as well as leveraging Temporary County Certificates and other tools. The session will address preparing for teacher credential monitoring, including CalSAAS, authorizer oversight, Assignment Monitoring Reports on the Dashboard, and Williams List. The group will share creative practices for incentivizing and ensuring compliance.

Is your school's website making a lasting impression on potential families? Join us for a deep dive into best practices for your website—your school's point of contact with existing and future families. From messaging alignment to user-friendly navigation, we'll explore it all. What You'll Gain: A live demo unpacking website best practices. A strategic blueprint for creating a purposeful and user-friendly site. Tips to help your school stand out and make a strong online impression.

Charter leaders across California face a common challenge: retaining qualified employees. The evolving workplace landscape is reshaping HR into People Management. This shift focuses on dynamic, people-centered strategies that attract, retain, and develop talent while aligning organizational goals with employee aspirations. This presentation delves into these changes, offering tailored strategies for engaging Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. After attending, participants will successfully transition from traditional HR to People Management, mastering customized coaching, feedback, career conversations, and goal-setting for diverse generational groups.

The presenters will share practices for using a strengths-based social emotional monitoring tool that can be used as the local climate survey now required by California Education Code, Section 52052. The presenters will share strategies for using the monitoring tool to 1) prevent psycho/social/emotional events at school 2) provide interventions for identified psycho/social/emotional challenges at school and 3) develop ongoing school wide systems of support using multiple data points.

The first step to strengthening and supporting your school's success is forming a good plan. To turn your vision into impactful change, you need thoughtful planning, intentional culture building, and a commitment to persistent feedback. Join us to discover: **Why the time is right to update key elements like your mission, vision, values and strategic plans **Questions you should ask yourself, your team, and your educational partners and stakeholders **Tools to build momentum and make change **How to engage your community for a more significant impact

Students can not and will not perform their best unless they feel physically, emotionally, and mentally safe. Schools can ensure students are at their best by starting the day with a Morning Meeting. Come learn how Scholarship Prep supports all students through consistent routines of threshold greetings, daily SEL check-in activities, classroom resource centers, and a weekly universal screener. Attendees will be able to implement their own Morning Meeting routines to improve academic performance, reduce absenteeism and suspension rates, and increase satisfaction and belonging.

The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program is a heavily funded priority for the state budget... and it looks like it's here to stay! Join EdTec’s experts in this session for school finance and operations staff to get a clear overview of the program requirements and guidance on how to integrate them into existing school programming and/or add new programming in an efficient and effective way, learn what is going to be audited, review sample budgets and a budgeting tool for program planning, and discuss ideas for maximizing funding.

At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe POSITIVE PARENT PARTNERSHIPS LEAD TO HIGHER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. All are welcome to join us in an interactive session where we will unpack the benefits of Los Dichos a multilingual and multicultural family literacy program. Once a month, our Rocketship families are invited to come into the school for an hour and forty-five minutes each session to train, read a book, and do a hands-on activity. While in the classroom, families will read and lead an activity in partnership with their child’s teacher.

In this interactive session led by Larry King, attendees will delve into the complexities of board perspectives on charter schools and the pivotal role superintendents play in charter application decisions. Drawing from his unique experience of securing unanimous renewal from a previously hesitant authorizer, Larry will provide valuable tactics for addressing challenges with districts that might be resistant to charter collaboration. Join us to share your experiences and equip yourself with strategies to foster constructive charter and district interactions.

Come and join a panel presentation about nonclassroom-based advocacy efforts and the recent study by the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) and the state's Fiscal Crisis Management and Assistance Team (FCMAT) on Nonclassroom-based charter schools that was commissioned as a result of the 2023-24 CA State Budget. Study. Leads from LAO and FCMAT will be on hand to discuss their recommendations and potential next steps.

The Great Resignation exacerbated a growing teacher shortage driven by low salaries and burnout. One-time funds have helped to address some staffing challenges, but their limited nature has created unsustainable expectations for continual compensation and benefit increases. Join us for insights around developing a competitive and equitable salary structure to drive hiring and retention and stay competitive in this topsy-turvy economic landscape.

In spring 2024, CCSA will issue its 2024 Portrait of the Movement. This year’s report focuses on the creative and resourceful ways that educators rise to the challenge of helping all California students – particularly the most historically underserved and vulnerable students – prepare for success in college, career, community, and life. This breakout session will present initial findings from this report. Specifically, charter schools interviewed for this report will share how they are achieving some of the highest UC college-going and career technical education (CTE) pathway completion rates for Latino, Black, and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged students in California. The stories and strategies these charter public schools shared reflect five key findings in preparing students for college and career.

nstructional leaders should always be asking themselves, “How close are we to our vision for students’ experience and how do we know?” In this session, system leaders, school leaders, and teachers will learn how Downtown College Prep in San Jose established a framework for regular data analysis and response centered around both students’ experiences and outcomes. Participants will explore replicable artifacts from data stepback meetings which drive cycles of instructional improvement. Finally, participants will have time and support to plan a similar cycle of improvement for their own system.

Data Driven approaches are promoted and discussed often, but what does implementing an effective data driven strategy look like? Attendees will learn how to design metrics and track data in a way that reflects success in the context of their school’s mission and their unique student populations. This workshop will provide guidance for creating alternative metrics, go through examples of how internal metrics can supplement state dashboard data, and conclude with a walk through of questions and processes to follow in order to implement effective tracking and use of data.

Short circuiting the bridge of theory to practice, participants will be led through experiential activities and discussions that allow them to understand, appreciate, and begin to apply the driving principles of Mental Wellness Literacy. Ultimately participants will be able to uncover the missing solution and move students along a progressive, measurable, and equitable path of wellness. If you’re interested in developing an understanding of how Mental Wellness Literacy progressively impacts student achievement, engagement, attendance, and sense of belonging, consider attending this session.

In partnership with Scholarship Prep, we will share out and discuss their ‘Community Meeting Toolkit’ which is a model of innovative practice (MIP) created to better identify, support and serve highly impacted student populations, especially those experiencing homelessness. In this session, participants will discuss community engagement at their own school site, using different components of the ‘Community Meeting Toolkit’ to guide the conversation.

In our ‘Alphabet Soup’ session, participants will discuss amongst each other the practices, tools and efficacy of implementing programs like SEL (social emotional learning), DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) …or EDI, all essential programs used to deliver equitable education for a diverse student population.

In a conversation led by CCSA’s Member Council representative for single site schools, join fellow charter leaders to discuss amongst each other the issues unique to being a single site school, such as: How do other single site school leaders navigate the current political and practical landscape to survive and thrive as a single site school? What best practices and innovations are other single site schools leveraging to provide an excellent education to their students?

What proven strategies is your school using to support students' social-emotional and mental health? In this session, educators will share amongst each other what has worked well and what has changed. Come prepared to share your strategies, including collaborative learning techniques, student social interactions and student support.

The Exhibitor Scoop provides a last chance for a treat before the Exhibit Hall closes on Wednesday. Follow up with exhibitors to learn how they can serve the unique needs of your school all while enjoying an ice cream treat and a performance of student violinists from Pacoima Charter School.