Seeing Students for the Greatness They Possess/Nurturing Potential:

Develop an ability to recognize and respond to barriers of access to resources, opportunities, and rights while focusing on redressing those barriers with the goal of cultivating and sustaining successful outcomes and experiences for all students. As a result of this strand, participants will have a deeper understanding of how to collectively and directly acknowledge and confront these barriers (in outcomes and experiences) with the goal of building sustainable practices, policies, and systems.

Family and Community Engagement: 

Family and Community Engagement practitioners will increase their knowledge and acquire practical tools to engage with families and community partners, regardless of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. This strand will explore engagement to break down barriers and strengthen community responsiveness in schools and communities. As a result of this strand, participants will have a broader perspective of engagement with practical tools and platforms to engage with families and community partners. They will leave with a deeper understanding of ways to break down barriers in order to strengthen community responsiveness in schools and communities.

Health:

Educational champions of health will increase their knowledge and acquire practical tools to engage with students and families so that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. This strand will explore the link between education and health attainment to increase health knowledge and influence positive health and wellness behaviors in the educational setting. As a result of this strand, participants will have a broader perspective of social determinants of health that impact education, and the challenges that many school children and families face. Participants will have a better understanding of how policies and practices proven to increase academic performance and reduce education disparities are vital in reducing health disparities. Participants will leave with opportunities to reframe how they think about student success in ways that embrace health and wellness.

PreK-12 Exemplary Instructional Practices:

Participants will increase their knowledge around evidence-based instructional practices that align with the California content frameworks practices that support access for all, rigorous practices that engage student learning, voice, and choice, and effective assessment practices for successful progress monitoring. Participants will acquire practical tools to engage their staff, school site, and district-level administrators. Key areas of focus will apply across all content areas, PreK-12.

Special Education:

Practitioners across educational domains will increase their knowledge and acquire practical tools to engage with colleagues, families, and community partners around barriers facing students with disabilities. This strand will explore inconsistencies in the field of special education to advocate for the breaking down of barriers and strengthen the voice of educating the whole child. As a result of this strand, participants will gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the systemic challenges and disparities experienced by students with disabilities. By learning about the various challenges across multiple themes, participants will leave the conference with tools to advocate for the rights of the whole child at school, at work, and in their community.

Technology: 

Participants will learn how to effectively use technology to support a wide range of learners. This strand will focus on closing gaps in access to digital tools and using technology to meet varied student needs. Participants will explore strategies for expanding access, overcoming barriers to technology use, and applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to tailor learning experiences. They’ll examine successful efforts to increase digital access, explore how esports can engage a wide range of students, and discuss the broader role of technology in education, navigating challenges and identifying approaches that lead to better outcomes for all learners.