Business Services

This strand calls on presenters to share their knowledge of how state and federal funding provide resources that are geared towards creating equitable learning environments (from Federal Title funds to California’s Local Control Funding Formula and Local Control Accountability Plan). Participants will learn how current regulations elicit and require educational partner engagement with the goal of providing equitable funding to students with the greatest need.

Sub-Category - Facilities: Designing playgrounds and other learning environments that enable students with disabilities to better participate in activities with all students.

Possible themes, proposals, and presenter:

• Learn how equitable funding is built into the Local Control Funding Formula and the Local Control Accountability Plan 

• Equitable learning options using Federal ESSA and IDEA funding sources 

• Equity based budgeting and resource allocation

Target Audience:

Chief Business Officials and Fiscal Staff, District Facility and Operations Staff

Empowerment and Access

Develop an ability to recognize and respond to barriers/inequities of access to resources, opportunities, and rights, while focusing on redressing those barriers/inequities with the goal of cultivating and sustaining equitable 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 inequity (in outcomes and experiences) with the goal of cultivating and sustaining equitable practices, policies, and systems.

Possible themes that proposal submissions should reference: 

• Equity-Minded Leadership

• Student Engagement

• Data and Monitoring Systems

• Climate and Culture

Targeted Audience:

Classified Staff, Counselors, CTE/College and Career Leaders, District Leaders, Education Partners, General Interest, Mental Health and SEL Staff, Parents/Caregivers, PreK-12 Educators, School Board Members, School Psychologists, Site Administrators

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 socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. This strand will explore equitable engagement to break down barriers and strengthen cultural proficiency in schools and communities. As a result of this strand, participants will have a broader perspective of equitable engagement, diverse platforms, and practical tools to engage with families and community partners. They will leave with a deeper understanding of ways to break down barriers in order to strengthen cultural proficiency in schools and communities. 

Possible themes that proposal submissions should reference:

• Leveraging Diverse Communication Platforms

• Diversifying Community Partnerships

• Intentional Engagement Practices

Targeted Audience:

Classified Staff, Community Outreach Leaders, Counselors, District Leaders, Education Partners, General Interest, Parents/Caregivers, PreK-12 Educators, School Board Members, Site Administrators

Government Relations

Participants will learn how to effectively engage with government entities to advocate for policies that promote educational equity on a local, regional, statewide and/or federal level. This strand will focus on understanding and influencing the legislative process to support equitable access and outcomes in education for all students, particularly those from underserved communities. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to navigate the political landscape to advocate for education equity. They will leave equipped with strategies for building partnerships, influencing policy, and leveraging government relations to ensure equitable educational opportunities and resources for every student, regardless of their background.

Possible themes that proposal submissions should reference:

• Advocacy for Equitable Education Policies 

• Building Alliances for Education Advocacies 

• Strategies for Influencing Education Legislation 

Targeted Audience:

Community Outreach Leaders, District Leaders, Education Partners, General Interest, School Board Members, Site Administrators

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 inequities 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.

Possible themes that proposal submissions should reference:

• LGBTQIA+ Students

• Opioid Crisis

• Mental Health

• Health Access

Targeted Audience:

Classified Staff, Counselors, District Leaders, Education Partners, General Interest, Health Practitioners, Parents/Caregivers, PreK-12 Educators, School Board Members, School Nurses, Site Administrators

Personnel Services

This strand calls on presenters to share their knowledge of engaging in equitable hiring and employee retention practices which will promote an inclusive and diverse workforce.

Possible themes, proposals, and presenter submissions:

• Intentional, fair, and equitable hiring practices.

• Inclusive on-boarding strategies and creating a sense of belonging.

• Building and maintaining a positive work environment which recruits and sustains a culturally inclusive workforce.

  • How to prioritize LGBTQ inclusion in the workplace.

  • Multigenerational workforce.

  • Employee engagement and communication.

  • Legal considerations for diversity and equity in the workplace.

    • Anti Bullying in the workplace.

    • Disability discrimination.

    • Title IX.

Targeted Audience:

Classified Staff, Counselors, District Leaders, Education Partners, General Interest, Labor Relations and Union Leadership, Parents/Caregivers, Personnel Services Staff, PreK-12 Educators, School Board Members, Site Administrators, Title IX Coordinators

PreK-12 Equitable Instructional Practices

Participants will increase their knowledge around evidence-based instructional practices that align with the California content frameworks, equitable access and practices, 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.  

Possible themes that proposal submissions should reference:

• Instructional Rigor and Complexity

• Grading Practices and Student Success Criteria

• Learning and Brain Science

• Instructional Pedagogy and Student Motivation 

• Providing Appropriate Support and Guidance

Targeted Audience:

Classified Staff, Community Outreach Leaders, Counselors, District Leaders, Early Learning Educators, Education Partners, General Interest, Head Start/Preschool Staff, Parents/Caregivers, PreK-12 Educators, School Board Members, Site Administrators

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 inequities 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 have a deeper and broader perspective on inequities facing students with disabilities. By learning about the various inequities 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.

Possible themes that proposal submissions should reference:

• Instructional Rigor and Complexity

• Grading Practices and Student Success Criteria

• Disproportionality

• Transition - College and Career Readiness

• Low Incidence Disabilities

• Social and Emotional

• Justice System and Disability

• Eligibility and Assessments

• Inclusion

• Ableism
  
  

Targeted Audience:

Classified Staff, Community Outreach Leaders, Counselors, District Leaders, Early Learning Educators, Education Partners, General Interest, Head Start/Preschool Staff, Parents/Caregivers, PreK-12 Educators, School Board Members, School Psychologists, Site Administrators

Technology

Participants will learn how to effectively engage with technology to create an inclusive and equitable learning environment. This strand will focus on addressing digital equity and then leveraging the technology to address disparities and promote inclusion. Participants will explore inclusive tech practices, overcoming challenges for digital equity, and leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for personalized learning. They'll delve into successful digital inclusion initiatives, discover the benefits of esports for inclusivity, and discuss the broader impact of technology on educational equity, navigating potential challenges for positive outcomes.

Possible themes that proposal submissions should reference:

•  Identifying and Closing the Digital Equity Gap:

  • Presentations could explore strategies for recognizing and addressing disparities in technology access and skills among students and educators.

• Utilizing Technology to Eliminate Inequities:

  • Possible Presentations: Using AI as Personalized/Private Tutors: Exploring how artificial intelligence can be used to provide personalized learning experiences, particularly for students who don’t have access to traditional “extra” support.

• Esports

  • Highlighting the role of esports in education: Inclusion of students who don’t fall into our traditional clubs/teams, promote teamwork, and provide opportunities for students to engage with technology.

  • How to get started in esports.

Targeted Audience:

Classified Staff, Counselors, CTE/College and Career Leaders, District Leaders, Education Partners, General Interest, Parents/Caregivers, PreK-12 Educators, School Board Members, Site Administrators