The fifth annual CSBA and Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip to Washington, D.C. from April 13-15 is just around the corner, and for local educational agency leaders, flexing their influence on Capitol Hill is just as critical as ever.

“When school board members show up in Washington, D.C., our students’ voices travel with them and impact the decisions made and California’s educational outcomes,” said Patrick O’Donnell, CSBA Chief of Governmental Relations. “Attending Coast2Coast isn’t about politics. It’s about responsibility and standing up for public education where funding decisions are made.”

The three-day event provides California’s district and county office of education board members, superintendents and other cabinet-level officials to elevate the issues impacting the state’s nearly 6 million TK–12 students on the national stage.

The first two days are dedicated to educational sessions so participants have the knowledge and strategies needed to effectively advocate for their LEAs. Confirmed speakers so far include political strategists Celinda Lake, founder of Lake Research Partners; Bob Carpenter, founder of Chesapeake Beach Consulting; and constitutional law expert David Fontana, the Samuel Tyler Research Professor at George Washington University Law School. Additional speakers will be announced as the event approaches.

The final day culminates in an unparalleled opportunity to engage directly with policymakers and influencers in the nation’s capital. Attendees will meet with lawmakers and their staff, have the chance to network with prominent D.C. figures, and engage in briefings with Capitol Hill decision-makers and influencers on the priority issues most likely to shape federal education policy in 2026 and impact district operations, school supports and long-term student outcomes.

Key topics for the 2026 event include:

• Workforce and career technical education (CTE): Federal leaders in both parties are planning significant changes to workforce legislation, apprenticeships and credentialing systems and prioritizing updates to federal programs that affect how LEAs build CTE pathways.
• Children’s online safety and student privacy: Proposals advancing in Congress including the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act may reshape how schools manage technology platforms, digital learning tools and student data. LEA leaders must ensure new federal rules protect students without creating unfunded mandates or barriers to classroom innovation.
• Federal education appropriations: Federal budget decisions will impact programs that LEAs depend on including special education, Title I and support services that help students show up ready to learn. It’s crucial that federal leaders anticipate constraints, pursue opportunities and advocate for stability at the local level.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and education: AI is a top policy priority for the Trump administration and key congressional leaders. From the President’s executive order on AI and education, the Department of Education’s new AI guidance, and an upcoming discretionary grant program focused on AI, the stage is set for major policy shifts.

Uniting on these areas is vital, as members traveling to Washington, D.C. during the first four iterations of Coast2Coast impacted the decisions Congress made around past key priority topics, O’Donnell said.

“Policy decisions made in D.C. impact school funding and, therefore, our classrooms. Without a doubt, this trip ensures school board members are part of the conversation before those decisions are made,” he explained. “CSBA advocacy helped ensure the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools Act and protected our schools from proposed federal school cuts this year. Being at the table in D.C. made a difference.”

This year’s agenda includes a pre-conference activity: The Mount Vernon Experience. On April 12, an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the mansion and grounds available only to Coast2Coast attendees will reflect on how President George Washington’s advocacy for independence shaped the nation’s founding.