2022 CSDC Conference

Why attend?

The California Charter Schools Leadership Update Conference offers valuable networking events and varied professional development opportunities.

Get CSDC's critical updates and exclusive insights

You'll hear the latest from our team of experts who stay busy throughout the year tracking the latest developments in charter school funding, policy, accountability (LCAP), governance, operations, and more. At the conference, you'll receive their strategic advice—the kind of guidance that reflects both our expertise as the state's leading technical experts, but also our understanding of how things actually work at your charter school.

Select from dozens of high-quality breakout sessions

Including not only those sessions presented by CSDC staff but also those presented by the many deeply knowledgeable charter school leaders whom we invite to the event so that they can share their unique perspectives.

Celebrate with the people that make the movement

Of course, you'll have the opportunity to meet with California charter school leaders, including several structured opportunities (such as the meetings Charter Leader Discussion Group), as well as an evening cocktail reception. You'll also have the opportunity to shop and compare amongst nearly 100 solution providers that will join the event. And you'll celebrate a historic milestone as this year's conference marks 30 years of California charter schools.

Included in Your In-Person Registration

Content & Programming

Annual Leadership Update Presentation: The eponymous presentation from which the conference evolved, the Leadership Update Presentation is hosted by CSDC's Executive Director, Eric Premack, and contains the essential fiscal, legislative, and regulatory information charter school leaders must know to successfully operate their schools.
Extended workshops presented by CSDC's charter school experts and guest instructors.
Dozens of 75-minute breakout sessions carefully curated by CSDC's conference programming committee and selected for their alignment to key leadership topics, such as leadership, governance, operations, accountability, instruction, and more.
Nearly 100 vendors, providing attendees with a convenient opportunity to shop and compare under one roof.
Celebration of 30 years of Charter Schools in California.
Charter Leader Discussion Group Meetings: Professional networking groups that meet and share questions, concerns, challenges, and goals during the conference. Some of these continue all year long, continuing to strengthen the charter movement.
NEW • Learning Labs, a new session format offering that is meant to spark ideas and discussion.
NEW • Additional Sessions, with conference workshops beginning on Sunday 11/13, adding more one-stop training opportunities for your team
In-Person registration does not include the recorded package, which is primarily intended for charter school leaders who cannot attent the conference in Sacramento.

Housing, Food & Beverage

Discounted housing at two luxury hotels within steps of the convention center (the Sheraton Grand Sacramento or the Hyatt Regency Sacramento)
Coffee and tea to energize in the morning each day
Lunch on both days of the event
Cupcakes and coffee in the afternoon with vendors in the Exhibitor Hall
One drink ticket at the networking cocktail reception

New to the Conference?

A Brief History: 17 Years in the Making

1998

First Leadership Update presentations

CSDC Executive Director & Founder, Eric Premack, provides first comprehensive analysis of major education finance and policy changes affecting California charter schools. The presentation is held in multiple locations throughout the state and quickly becomes a trusted resource for school leaders seeking charter-specific guidance.

1999

CSDC launches school membership program

As the Leadership Update presentation is offered in more locations throughout the state, covering Northern, Southern, and Central California regions, school leaders express need for continuing support beyond the presentation and throughout the school year. CSDC responds with an annual school membership program, which later grows to include over half of the active charter schools in California.

2003

First statewide conference convenes

CSDC consolidates the regional Leadership Update presentations into one big annual gathering, holding the first statewide conference in Sacramento, CA and featuring additional breakout sessions, guest speakers (including Dr. Howard Gardner), and a special performance by students of the Oakland School of the Arts.

2018

Green Apple Award founded

CSDC creates award to recognize the contributions of charter leaders moving into retirement. First recipients include veteran leaders at Natomas Charter School, Learn4Life Concept Charter Schools, California Montessori Project, and Redding School of the Arts.

2020

Conference goes fully virtual

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference goes fully online, with a large proportion of the programming designed to support schools in overcoming pandemic-related challenges.

2022

School leaders celebrate 30 years of CA charter schools

California school leaders eagerly await CSDC’s 2022 conference to commemorate the Charter Schools Act of 1992, the piece of legislation that introduced the chartered school concept to California and that CSDC staff helped write 30 years ago.

Conference Images

CSDC’s annual conference is a homecoming for the many past participants of CSDC’s training programs and workshops, including our decade-old CBO Training program, as well as our over 20-year-old summer Leadership Intensive.

CSDC’s Accountability and Development Specialist, Susanne Coie, presents an extended session on charter school accountability and renewal.

Widely regarded as the state’s leading experts on charter school policy and practice matters, CSDC’s staff present over a dozen sessions at the conference and allot time for answering attendees’ specific technical questions.

An attendee learns more about what a company has to offer charter schools in the conference exhibit hall. The conference draws nearly 100 solution providers, making it a great place to check in with existing vendors and learn about new products and services.

Every year at the conference, a handful of charter school leaders are honored for their extensive contributions to the schools, students, and communities they serve.

Attendees react to group discussion during an extended workshop. Extended workshops are one of the major features of the event and give attendees the opportunity to delve deep on a specific topic–at no additional cost.

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Thanks to our Sponsors!

Why attend?

Location

Included in Your In-Person Registration

New to the Conference?

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Info

Attend

Sponsor or Exhibit

Present

Thanks to our Sponsors!

Why attend?

Location

Included in Your In-Person Registration

New to the Conference?

Conference Images