This week, charter school leaders from every part of California gathered in downtown Sacramento for the 2024 CSDC Conference—the annual event not-to-be-missed by California charter school leaders.
Hosted by the Charter Schools Development Center (CSDC)—the statewide organization that has defined high-quality training for over thirty years—CSDC’s conference is California charter school leaders’ one-stop shop for in-depth content, relationship building, and resources.
Charter Leaders' Biggest Takeways
With so many great presentations packed into the 3-day schedule, it was impossible for one person to take it all in. So we asked several charter school leaders for their biggest takeaways and compiled them here:
Record Attendance by State Leaders
Charter school leaders really turned out for this year’s event—breaking last year’s record-setting attendance in Anaheim.
Making a Huge Impact: This year’s attendees represented over 360,000 California charter school students—ensuring that the ideas, strategies, and resources shared this week will make a direct impact in California’s schools and communities.
Nearly Every County Represented: In addition to the sheer number of students served, this year’s attendees also represented nearly every county in the state—from Del Norte in the very northwest, all the way down to Imperial County in the very southeast. In fact, of the 54 California counties with active charter schools, 49 were represented in Sacramento at the 2024 CSDC Conference.
A Commitment to Learning: The CSDC Conference is also a homecoming to leaders committed to ongoing professional learning, with over 300 alumni of CSDC’s in-depth trainings and programs, including the CBO Training Program, Leadership Intensive, and HR Academy.
The Year’s Biggest Keynote
The CSDC Conference is home to the year’s biggest keynote: an extensive, multi-part keynote led by CSDC Founder and Executive Director, Eric Premack, and CSDC’s team of charter school experts.
During the wide-ranging presentation, Eric Premack answered critical questions, such as:
- How healthy is the charter school sector today—especially given the continued impact of 2019 legislative setbacks?
- How difficult is it to start new charter schools (or expand existing ones)? And what type of planning and political organizing is required to do so?
- What’s CSDC take on current macroeconomic conditions—and what factors and possibilities could be especially consequential for charter school funding?
- With declining enrollment continuing to be a pervasive problem for all California public schools, what challenges and opportunities exist specifically for charter schools?
- Why does the legislative and policy remain challenging—and what can our school community do about it?
A Buzzing Exhibit Hall
This year’s exhibit hall was the biggest yet, with over 100 companies collectively offering services and products covering nearly every aspect of charter school operations, instruction, and management. View the live floor plan.
Additional Vendors at Your Fingertips: As we turn the page on this year’s event, check out CSDC’s Vendor Directory, which features this year’s exhibitors and sponsors as well as CSDC Vendor Members and other companies eager to support your school.
Reserve Your Booth for 2025: One advantage of exhibiting at the CSDC Conference in 2024? Being first in line for booths in 2025! Presales for the 2025 conference have been brisk. So if you were unable to join the hall this year, be sure to contact the Exhibitor & Sponsorship sales team to learn about options for participating next year before space runs out.
Regional Schools in the Spotlight
With charter school leaders gathered under one roof in Sacramento, CSDC seized the opportunity to spotlight some of the regional charter schools whose efforts have made a real difference in the region.
Gateway Charter Schools recently opened a new facility on a former fitness center on a decommissioned Air Force base, making it a great example of how charter school growth and facilities rehabilitation not only opens educational opportunities for students, but also can sustain the economic vitality of a region:
After pulling through the Dixie Fire, Plumas Charter School struck an agreement with the local school district to avoid competition and share facilities. Their perseverance and collaboration in the face of a historic natural disaster positioned Plumas Charter School to make a major difference locally—and globally, too:
Big Announcements
Boarding Pass Podcast: Hosted by Caitlin O’Halloran Hellar, CSDC’s Governance & Policy Specialist, Boarding Pass is your ticket to effective charter school board governance. The podcast features conversations with experts who share the how and why charter schools work. 5 episodes are available now. Be sure to follow on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to receive the latest episodes as they become available!
Advocacy Webinar Series: Starting December 12, this three-part webinar series is every charter leader’s essential toolkit for being heard in Sacramento. From mastering the basics in 101, to navigating the budget and bill process in 201, and addressing urgent charter school issues in 301, participants will gain the strategies and confidence to advocate effectively. Free to CSDC Members. Register now!
2025 Dates & Location: It’s hard not to be excited by next year’s destination location: Palm trees, pools, great hotel options, and easy travel from any major airport in California. Discover where and when we’ll gather this time next year:
In the Meantime
Early registration and the call for presentation proposals for the 2025 CSDC Conference will open early next year.
In the meantimewhile, be sure to:
Complete Your 2024 CSDC Conference Eval—and Win Prizes! Your feedback is essential to evolving the event year-to-year! If you registered for the conference as an attendee, you should have received a link to the overall conference eval. Complete your eval by December 2 and qualify to win a $50 Visa gift card or 50% off registration to next year’s conference! Contact CSDC if you need the eval link.
Register for the 2025 CBO Training Program: CSDC’s next in-person event is the 2025 CBO Training Program—a comprehensive, 60+ hour school business management training with a unique, charter specific approach. Early registration closes December 12. Register now!
