Advocacy
CSBA-ACSA Coast2Coast 2026 delivered a united voice for California students
LEA leaders from around the state gathered to advocate directly with representatives
When education leaders take the time to show up, share their stories and speak with clarity and purpose, they help shape policies that directly affect students’ lives. This truth was on full display when school board members and superintendents from across California gathered in Washington, D.C. from April 12-15 for the 2026 CSBA-ACSA Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip.

CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy emphasized that the partnership between CSBA and ACSA at Coast2Coast amplifies the impact of every participant in a way that reverberates from the nation’s capital to their schools and communities back home in California.

“Your presence here strengthens our collective voice and provides us with an opportunity to weigh in on some of the most important education issues impacting our schools,” Billy said.

A bipartisan path forward for students
Attendees arrived in D.C. united by a shared goal: to help federal policymakers understand the realities facing California schools and make sure California’s representatives advocate for solutions that improve school conditions and student outcomes. Participants approached the event as an extension of their daily work supporting students, educators and families, but also as an opportunity to build collective power that overcomes political divides.

One of the clearest takeaways from this year’s Coast2Coast was that education remains a rare area where bipartisan progress is possible. While differences in approach persist, there is meaningful common ground around key priorities — supporting students, strengthening the educator workforce, expanding opportunity and ensuring safe, effective learning environments. By focusing on shared goals and grounding advocacy in both data and lived experience, California’s education leaders demonstrated how collaboration across perspectives can lead to stronger outcomes for students.

Key issues
Workforce and career technical education (CTE)
CTE emerged as a clear example of bipartisan alignment, with federal policymakers consistently supporting programs that connect education to workforce needs.
Children’s online safety and privacy
Leaders examined evolving federal proposals such as the Kids Online Safety Act and updates to children’s data privacy laws, highlighting the growing expectation that schools and their partners ensure safe, transparent digital environments for students.
Artificial intelligence (AI) in education
AI was a central topic and federal actions aimed at creating a national AI policy framework could significantly shape how schools adopt and regulate these tools, raising important questions about innovation and equity.
Federal appropriations
The core message for federal appropriations was that federal mandates must be federally funded, especially in special education. Federal law requires school districts to provide services to students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). When IDEA was enacted, Congress committed to funding 40 percent of the average per-pupil cost for special education. That commitment has never been met and federal funds now account for less than 10 percent of California’s special education expenditures.
Attendees arrived in D.C. united by a shared goal: to help federal policymakers understand the realities facing California schools and make sure California’s representatives advocate for solutions that improve school conditions and student outcomes.
Demystifying a complex federal landscape
Insider perspectives on the intersection of education, policy, politics and law gave Coast2Coast participants a clear view of the federal landscape.

Experts, including Professor David Fontana of George Washington University Law School, offered insight into the growing concentration of power in the executive branch, a long-term trend across both political parties that influences how education policy is developed and implemented. Fontana noted that, contrary to the idea that the nation’s founders viewed all three branches of government equally, they actually saw the legislative branch as primary. He noted that the current Congress has largely abdicated its leadership rule, creating a power vacuum filled by the executive and judicial branches, a development with significant implications for public education and society at large.

Policy leaders and top federal education lobbyists Reg Leichty and Peter Oppenheim offered an analysis of Congressional action on education, from a Democratic and Republican standpoint, respectively. Both speakers emphasized the challenges of advancing major legislation through a largely impotent federal Legislature and the importance of identifying areas of agreement, such as reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools Act, which was successfully advocated for at previous Coast2Coast events.

From preparation to Capitol Hill
After days of learning and collaboration, participants put their preparation into action. Working in teams, attendees refined their messaging, shared local stories and aligned priorities before heading to Capitol Hill. There, they met with approximately 50 members of Congress and their staff while engaging leaders from both parties, including Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff and Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Mark DeSaulnier, Darrell Issa, Mike Levin, Ted Lieu, Zoe Lofgren, Maxine Waters and Young Kim among others.

These conversations reflected the core purpose of Coast2Coast: ensuring that federal decision-makers understand the significant challenges and opportunities facing schools and the real solutions that can improve student outcomes.

Grounding advocacy in public sentiment
A deep dive into national voter attitudes on education provided one of the highlights of the Coast2Coast program and offered important context for how messages resonate beyond Capitol Hill. Research presented by Lake Research Partners and Chesapeake Beach Consulting revealed a complex picture:

  • Only about one in four Americans are satisfied with the direction of the country, reflecting a broader environment of dissatisfaction and uncertainty
  • Six in 10 voters are dissatisfied with the quality of K–12 education nationally
  • At the same time, there is overwhelming bipartisan agreement on key education priorities, including funding public schools, supporting teachers and expanding CTE

The research also highlighted the real-life pressures facing families, with 70 percent of parents reporting they are living paycheck to paycheck, a reality that reinforces the critical role schools play in supporting student well-being and opportunity.

A group of conference attendees sit around a round table engaged in discussion. A woman in a white blazer gestures while speaking as others listen. Papers, soda cans, and table numbers are visible on the black tablecloth.
A man in a beige suit and maroon tie speaks with other attendees at a round conference table marked with table number 25. A woman in a light blue blazer sits next to him, and papers are spread across the black tablecloth.
Six diverse conference attendees stand together and smile for a photo. They wear professional business attire—including a royal blue dress, a gray blazer, and a bright purple jacket—along with matching event lanyards.
A man in a gray suit and maroon tie gestures with both hands while speaking at a podium labeled "Coast2Coast." An American flag stands behind him against a deep blue curtain.
1) Participants in the 2026 Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip. 2 and 3) Attendees discuss advocacy issues before heading to Capitol Hill. 4) Coast2Coast participants pose for a group photo in the Hart Senate Office Building. 5) Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi addresses Coast2Coast attendees at the Capitol Reception. 6) Professor David Fontana of George Washington University Law School offered insights on the changing balance of power between the executive, judicial and legislative branches. 7) From L-R: CSBA President-elect Sabrena Rodriguez, CSBA Vice President Jackie Thu-Huong Wong, CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California), CSBA President Dr. Debra Schade and CSBA Immediate Past President Dr. Bettye Lusk.
Participants posing at a staircase in the 2026 Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip
A group of conference attendees sit around a round table engaged in discussion. A woman in a white blazer gestures while speaking as others listen. Papers, soda cans, and table numbers are visible on the black tablecloth.
A man in a beige suit and maroon tie speaks with other attendees at a round conference table marked with table number 25. A woman in a light blue blazer sits next to him, and papers are spread across the black tablecloth.
Six diverse conference attendees stand together and smile for a photo. They wear professional business attire—including a royal blue dress, a gray blazer, and a bright purple jacket—along with matching event lanyards.
Nancy Pelosi speaks and gestures at a wooden podium. A group of professionally dressed men and women stand behind her against a light marble wall.
A man in a gray suit and maroon tie gestures with both hands while speaking at a podium labeled "Coast2Coast." An American flag stands behind him against a deep blue curtain.
Six professionally dressed men and women stand in a line and smile for a photo. They wear business attire, including a fuchsia top, dark suits, and a plaid blazer, in front of a light marble wall.
1) Participants in the 2026 Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip. 2 and 3) Attendees discuss advocacy issues before heading to Capitol Hill. 4) Coast2Coast participants pose for a group photo in the Hart Senate Office Building. 5) Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi addresses Coast2Coast attendees at the Capitol Reception. 6) Professor David Fontana of George Washington University Law School offered insights on the changing balance of power between the executive, judicial and legislative branches. 7) From L-R: CSBA President-elect Sabrena Rodriguez, CSBA Vice President Jackie Thu-Huong Wong, CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California), CSBA President Dr. Debra Schade and CSBA Immediate Past President Dr. Bettye Lusk.
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