CSBA and the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) will host the third annual Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip to Washington, D.C., from April 8–10, 2024. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this advocacy event and shine a light on the issues affecting the state’s nearly 6 million students. California school district and county office of education board members and superintendents can bring their local issues straight to the nation’s Capital during this three-day event.

The 2024 Coast2Coast event will begin with a day of brushing up on education policy issues specific to California, an “insiders’” briefing on the latest politics affecting federal education policy, and a networking opportunity with prominent D.C. figures and fellow educators. This will be followed by two days of meetings on Capitol Hill to advocate directly with California congressional representatives, White House officials, key federal agency leaders and other top policymakers.

“What happens in the nation’s capital has a major impact on students in our communities here in California. Through Coast2Coast, CSBA and ACSA members have the potential to help shape federal policy and make a difference for public schools back home,” said CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy. “Each year, this event has grown in scope and influence and that’s largely due to the engagement of education leaders from across the state who are willing to extend themselves and take their advocacy work to the next level.”

Each local educational agency can register three individuals per district/county office of education. Feedback from the first two Coast2Coast trips was positive, with attendees often citing the unique opportunity to focus on bringing California issues to the national stage. “I learned so much in a short amount of time. I’m very thankful to ACSA and CSBA for this opportunity,” said Natomas USD board member Ericka Harden, who participated in the 2023 event. “My biggest takeaway from this event is to keep fighting the fight and to see a whole team come together and understand that anything is possible when you have the right people in the room. I’m leaving with so much new information from this event. I’m so overjoyed and overwhelmed and cannot wait to bring it back to my district and share with my fellow trustees.”