March 10-13, 2025 • SAFE Credit Union Convention Center • Sacramento, CA
Breakout sessions are opportunities for attendee learning and professional development via presentations or small group discussions presented by a subject matter expert. Breakouts were categorized into four areas of interest have subtopics to help attendees select the most relevant content:
To strengthen community members' ability to advocate for policies that support charter school success—with authorizers and at the capitol.
| Authorization and renewals | Includes sessions on advocacy with authorizers related to approval, oversight, and renewals. For example, authorizer relations, authorizer overreach, authorization process, authorizing structures and policies, renewal law, using verified data under AB1505, accountability, and appeals. |
| Policy and advocacy | Includes sessions on advocating for charter schools, proposed policies affecting charter schools and advocacy strategies to fight for charter autonomy, flexibility, and equity. |
To provide teachers and instructional leaders with strategies, knowledge, and best practices that result in joyful schools of academic excellence for all students.
| Instructional models and practices | Includes sessions on various learning methods and programs (examples: dual-language, STEAM, personalized learning, CTE etc.), as well as instructional best practices that yield results and close opportunity gaps (examples: literacy gap-closing practices, implementing science standards, integrating technology and AI, etc.). |
| Equitable student culture | Includes sessions on how classrooms and schools can develop a positive and inclusive school culture for students. For example: implementing Social Emotional Learning practices and programs, equitable discipline practices, (Please note that sessions related to instruction should go in “Instructional Models and Practices” and those related to creating a positive culture among adults should be submitted under "Staff Development and Culture.") |
| Strategies for inclusive education | Includes sessions about strategies to serve specific student groups, especially those who have been historically marginalized. For example: effective supports for English Learners, Black students, indigenous students, LGBTQIA+ students, or students with disabilities. |
To provide strategies and offer reflection opportunities for charter school leaders in their efforts to cultivate effective, collaborative, and purpose-driven teams that achieve results..
| Data driven leadership and strategic planning | Includes sessions on setting vision, building strategic plans, and creating cycles of continuous improvement, driven by data. For example: yearly action plans, data cycles, using multiple measures of data, LCAP. |
| Staff development and culture | Includes sessions on how school leaders build staff capacity and develop inclusive, high functioning teams. For example: adult learning, professional development plans, career conversations, developing mission-aligned teams, staff well-being. |
To support educators in running safe schools of operational integrity.
| Communications and marketing | Includes sessions on effective communications with a variety of stakeholders for the purposes of family and community enrollment, engagement, retention. For example, telling your school's story to the public, online presence, and effective communication with families. |
| Facilities | Includes sessions focusing on the acquisition and/or design and development of school facilities. Also, state and local regulations applicable to charter school facilities such as zoning, permitting, and environmental regulations, Proposition 39 and co-locations, the SB 740 program, state and local bond funding programs, charter school facilities finance options, and working with various real estate professionals. |
| Funding | Includes sessions on state and local policies related to budget, school-level budgeting, monitoring financial statements, cost saving strategies, using categorical programs and grants, Local Control Funding Formula, audits, fundraising strategies and building relationships with funders, grant writing, and new school start-up capital. |
| School governance | Includes sessions on creating effective school boards. For example: laws affecting governance, best practices for open meetings, conflicts of interest, financial management for board members, board recruitment, and effective leader-board relationships. |
| Human Resources | Includes sessions focused on managing people-focused processes such as recruiting, hiring, firing, evaluations, and compliance. For example: increasing diversity in the workplace through hiring, personnel responsibilities (FERPA, mandated reporters, student rights, etc.), and handling staff misconduct or allegations. |
| Legal | Includes sessions on laws affecting charter schools--especially new or changed laws, and difficult to implement laws. For example: understanding AB1505, laws regarding Special Education, discipline law including expulsions, and admissions and lottery practices. |
| Physical and Online Safety | Includes sessions related to school safety. For example: disaster planning, risk management, student playtime safety, building codes, cyber security, and traffic management. |
