2026 CALL FOR PROPOSALS IS NOW CLOSED!
Applicants will be notified whether their proposal has been accepted for inclusion in the conference program in mid-July. If you haven’t heard from us by then, please email us at aec@csba.org.
Workshops
- Workshops must be approved by the school district or county office of education being represented. Should CSBA hear from a school district or county office of education that a submission was not approved, the proposal will not be accepted for consideration.
- Proposals must include at least one board member, superintendent, or other staff of a current (2025-26 and 2026-27) CSBA member school district or county office of education on the panel; no exceptions will be made. Local educational agencies (LEA) who are not members of CSBA are not eligible to participate.
- CSBA does not accept workshop proposals for sessions intended to sell a product or service.
- Panelists should represent the diversity of our state, districts and counties of varying sizes, and varied points of view.
- Panelists should practice their presentations and prepare visually informative materials. Our attendees absorb a great deal of information at our conference. Thus, all panelists are strongly urged to keep their comments brief, back all claims with data, and stay tightly aligned with their session topic.
- Workshops will be scheduled in 65-minute time blocks and may be scheduled at any time during conference dates at the discretion of CSBA. The total presentation time for all panelists may not exceed 50 minutes, to reserve time for questions from our audience. Thus, each panelist should expect to present for a maximum of 10 to 15 minutes.
- Workshops are limited to four (4) panel members, including the moderator. No exceptions will be made. The moderator is required to proactively manage the time for each panelist, field questions from the audience, and keep the session moving forward. Multi-district panels are encouraged.
- The submitter, moderator and presenters will be notified in mid-July whether a proposal has been selected for inclusion in the conference program.
- Panels must be finalized by Thursday, August 27, 2026. Presenters will receive a complimentary, non-transferable, one-day pass for the day of their presentation. If they wish to attend the entire conference, they must register at the full conference rate. Registration opens on Tuesday, June 9. Accepted session presenter(s) are responsible for following all conference guidelines and deadlines.
- Accepted session presenter(s) are responsible for their own travel and related conference expenses.
The AEC planning committee is seeking proposals reflective of the current environment in which California’s schools operate. Proposals should provide relevant resources to advance the best interests of students and public education.
Workshops sessions help board members, superintendents, and other district and county office personnel learn about successful programs and how they can be replicated in other parts of California.
The following criteria will be equally weighed for each proposal:
- Does the proposal clearly address challenges faced by conference attendees?
- Does the proposal clearly articulate recommended actions attendees can take as a result of their learnings from the session?
- Is the proposal well-planned and well-written, providing a clear and realistic picture of intended outcomes for our attendees?
- Does the proposal reflect the interests of new, mid-career, or veteran education leaders from urban, suburban, small, or rural districts, or county offices of education?
- Is the perspective of board members, the school governance team, and its policy role clearly present?
- Is the proposal aligned with the respective conference strand?
- Can the proposed solution be replicated and scaled across a variety of school settings?
- Does the proposal address why participants need to have the proposed information and suggest the tools and strategies they will take with them?
- Does the proposal address budget implications, cost savings, or value added?
- Is the proposed topic timely, relevant, and unique?
- Does the proposal clearly articulate data on results achieved over at least two (2) years, showcasing district and board expertise?
- Does the proposal contain an innovative solution for a pressing issue relevant to our attendees?
- Is each presenter(s) and the designated moderator experienced, knowledgeable, effective, and engaging?
Workshops
Dive deep into specific themes or challenges featuring practical applications, facilitated discussions and collaborative learning opportunities.
- Workshops will be scheduled in 65-minute time blocks and may be scheduled at any time during conference dates at the discretion of CSBA. The total presentation time for all panelists may not exceed 50 minutes, to reserve time for questions from our audience. Thus, each panelist should expect to present for a maximum of 10 to 15 minutes.
- Workshops are limited to four (4) panel members, including the moderator. No exceptions will be made. The moderator is required to proactively manage the time for each panelist, field questions from the audience, and keep the session moving forward. Multi-district panels are encouraged.
Conference Strands
This strand highlights the importance of providing students with access to digital technology while providing guidance on how to use it responsibly, intentionally and thoughtfully. It explores the opportunities technology offers for personalized learning, collaboration and innovation, while also addressing challenges such as the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, privacy, online bullying and legal considerations. Board members will gain insights into fostering responsible digital citizenship, understanding security risks and staying informed on emerging trends in TK-12 education.
Key Focus Areas:
Equitable access to digital technology; digital literacy and responsible use; cybersecurity and data privacy; personalized learning and collaboration; emerging technologies and trends in education
Example Workshop Topics:
Ensuring equitable access to technology, navigating the ethical use of AI in the classroom; safeguarding student data, including immigration protections; empowering educators with digital literacy, fostering digital citizenship and academic integrity, the role of technology in special education and inclusive learning, digital communications, the role of technology in school culture, Esports and extended learning, impact of smartphones on learning; strong computer science programs; new/future technology in the classroom, college and career readiness, bridging the digital divide
This strand focuses on the essential role of governing boards in fostering authentic and productive engagement with students, families, educators and other staff, and community partners. This engagement is key to building collaborative relationships that support student achievement, enhance school culture and create long-term positive impacts for students and their families. The strand emphasizes effective collaboration to ensure access for the community to play an active role in educational outcomes.
Key Focus Areas:
Building and sustaining community relationships, inclusive engagement with families, cross-sector collaboration, awareness/advocacy for education funding and policy, leveraging media and culturally responsive communication, climate action and sustainability; long-term partnership development
Example Workshop Topics:
Engaging student voice in decision-making, building positive school culture, effective family engagement, local and grassroots advocacy, collaborating with nonprofits and corporations, marketing and promoting schools, legislative and political advocacy, climate resiliency and sustainability, school-based programs and parent training, strengthening school-community networks, building collaborative equitable partnerships while navigating special interest groups with local government, developing community advisory councils, leveraging corporate sponsorship
This strand focuses on creating supportive learning environments by addressing the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of students and staff. It emphasizes the importance of school culture, campus safety and wellness programs in ensuring the health and safety of all school community members. By fostering a safe, nurturing and respectful environment, schools can better support all students, families and staff, enhancing learning experiences, engagement and outcomes.
Key Focus Areas:
Student and staff mental health, staff and board member wellness, substance abuse prevention (ie. vaping, drugs, medical), safety and security (ie. school resource officers or police, staff safety representatives), trauma-informed services, school-based health, LGBTQ+ support, foster youth/students experiencing homelessness supports, ethnic studies, cultural relevance, immigration and family safety, communication systems for crises, ongoing training and aftermath in the event of crisis, engaging with families.
Example Workshop Topics:
Positive school climate, addressing chronic absenteeism and/or root causes, the role of school leaders in trauma-informed education, social-emotional learning, restorative practices, supporting students and staff in crisis, successful community school development, enhancing family and community partnerships.
This strand demonstrates how decision-making at the board level can create dynamic learning environments that support all students and ensure that every student, regardless of background and circumstances, has access to rigorous, varied and supportive educational pathways and opportunities that prepare them for future success.
Key Focus Areas:
Funding and resource allocation, student achievement and academic outcomes, college and career readiness, career technical education (CTE), inclusive education opportunities and support, hands-on/context-based instruction
Example Workshop Topics:
Expanding college and career exposure through innovative TK–12 strategies; increasing access to dual enrollment; using data to improve math, literacy, and key outcomes; strengthening special education to support all learners; closing the digital divide through expanded broadband; aligning LCAP goals, funding, and student outcomes; implementing MTSS for targeted supports; maximizing extended learning opportunities; rethinking discipline with positive behavior approaches; expanding access to TK and preschool; enhancing career technical education pathways; strengthening bilingual education and Seal of Biliteracy pathways; supporting alternative education programs; and building workforce partnerships through pre-apprenticeships, industry instructors, community college collaboration, and emerging technology initiatives, while addressing the needs of diverse student groups.
This strand is designed to support school district and county board of education members in developing the leadership skills, qualities and techniques needed to foster a productive governance team. It emphasizes the board’s critical role in making informed decisions that align with the goal of student success while prioritizing equitable educational opportunities and outcomes that meet all student needs.
Key Focus Areas:
Networking, leadership and decision-making, effective governance practices, accountability, policy and legal oversight, strategic planning, negotiations, governance team (superintendent and board members), roles and responsibilities, effective training and onboarding, relationships between district and county boards
Example Workshop Topics:
Board member roles and responsibilities; high-performing governance team; strategic planning and goal-setting; governance accountability and board leadership; navigating challenges for small and rural school districts; ethical and legal governance; superintendent contracts and evaluations; collective bargaining and negotiation; building and margining collaborative governance teams; strengthening board-superintendent and board-staff relationships to support academic achievement; data-informed governance and decision making; fostering community engagement and support for goals; advocacy; conflict resolution; equity in governance decisions, board member handbook development and governance resources; new board member orientation and governance onboarding.
This strand emphasizes the critical role of the board of education in providing comprehensive financial oversight and collaborating with the superintendent to ensure the effective management of local educational agency resources. The governance team works to prioritize resources around district goals in the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), ensuring that all students, regardless of background, benefit from a rigorous, equitable education that prepares them for future success.
Key Focus Areas:
Advocacy and being proactive; declining enrollment, funding shortfalls, labor negotiations and collective bargaining, financial crises and deficit spending, natural disasters and facility needs, state and federal budget pressures, special education funding, budget transparency and communication.
Example Workshop Topics:
Aligning budget priorities with LCAP goals; strategic budgeting in times of uncertainty; innovative revenue strategies; managing declining enrollment; understanding and addressing budget cuts; deficit spending; long-term financial planning; budget transparency and community trust; disaster preparedness and facility resilience, sustainable special education funding, enrollment and attendance, fiscal planning and management, sustainability and facilities, grant funding, collective bargaining, legal and crisis management.
Presenter Types
Through the proposal submission process, you will be asked to designate different roles for those involved with each proposal. Descriptions for each role are listed below. We recommend that you take time to become familiar with the descriptions.
This person will not be considered part of the panel unless also designated as a moderator or presenter. Only one submitter per proposal will be allowed. The submitter will receive an update regarding session selection, while all other communications will be directed to the speakers confirmed for the panel.
The moderator oversees the session development, communicates with CSBA staff, coordinates pre-conference preparations and acts as facilitator during the session on-site. Throughout the session, the moderator is required to proactively manage the time for each panelist, field questions from the audience, and keep the session moving forward.
The moderator will be the main point of contact for all conference-related correspondence between presenters and CSBA staff up to and through the Annual Education Conference and Trade Show. Only one moderator per proposal will be allowed. The moderator may also be the submitter. If there is only one presenter on the panel, they will be the moderator.
If your proposal is accepted, please note that CSBA sets each session with up to (4) total presenters, including the moderator. The moderator will be published in all conference materials along with the other presenters. The names of the moderator and presenters are listed in the AEC app, without reference to role.
A presenter is a panelist. If a proposal is accepted, CSBA sets each session for up to (4) total presenters, including the moderator. Presenters are encouraged to funnel all communication with CSBA through their session’s moderator.
In order to ensure the highest-quality workshops are selected for the conference and to manage the total number of submissions for review, Business Partner and Affiliate companies are limited to (1) workshop proposal submission per conference strand, for a maximum of (6) total workshop proposal submissions. Please prioritize the topics you are most qualified to speak about and associate those with one of this year’s conference strands. All workshop proposals from Business Partner and Affiliate companies will be reviewed and ranked along with all other submissions based on their merit, and only selected proposals will be invited to participate at AEC.