From April 28-30, CSBA and ACSA will lead a delegation of California school board members and superintendents to Washington, D.C. to address longstanding issues, such as teacher recruitment and retention, support for special education, technology in schools and the Secure Rural Schools Act. Attendees will learn more about recent federal directives related to immigration enforcement; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives; gender identity; and the future of the U.S. Department of Education.
Attendees will also deepen their knowledge through issue briefings with staff from CSBA and ACSA, hone their skills in advocacy training, pose questions to top policymakers and share their opinions with federal representatives in D.C.
“This will be my second time attending Coast2Coast and I expect it to be the most eventful yet. I always encourage members to take the next step in their governance practice by developing their advocacy skills and Coast2Coast offers the chance to do that at the federal level,” said CSBA President Dr. Bettye Lusk. “With a new Administration moving rapidly, this federal advocacy event presents a unique opportunity for school trustees and superintendents from across the political spectrum to hear directly from policymakers, get the latest information on critical issues and make their views known to their representatives.”
The advocacy event includes an eagerly anticipated reception in the Congressional Dining Room that features visits from members of California’s congressional delegation, a panel of strategists analyzing the current political environment as it relates to education, and workshops on school finance, teacher recruitment and retention, effective advocacy strategies and the digital divide. The event concludes with a day on Capitol Hill when members can apply their knowledge and freshly sharpened advocacy skills to make the case for students, schools and communities back home.