Full Agenda Coming Soon!
See what we offered in last year’s workshops and general sessions.
General Sessions
Policy Roundup and Discussion | Speakers: Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, Nicholas Hernandez, Krista Kafer, Colorado Democratic Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Moderators: Dan Schaller
The upcoming election and the legislative session to follow promise to be consequential ones for charter schools and public education. Who will win? Will there be significant shifts in the balance of power? What will it all mean for education and education funding? How will charter schools fare? An esteemed group of elected officials, political pundits and education experts will answer these and other questions with League President Dan Schaller as part of this engaging panel discussion.
What's Tech got to do with It? Evolving Insights from an EdTech Trailblazer | Mickey Revenaugh
Are you harnessing the full potential of technology to transform your school's learning experience? Join us for an insightful session with a pioneer in the EdTech space! Mickey will share emerging trends and practical strategies for integrating technology into your charter school's curriculum while harnessing it as a cataylst for student growth. Learn from a true visionary and leave inspired to take your student learning experience to the next level.
School Leaders: Fresh Perspectives on Health & Kindness | Dr. Kelli Harding
Join Dr. Kelli Harding for an inspiring keynote session as she explores the invisible factors that shape our health, such as kindness, community, and purpose. Her insights are based on her groundbreaking book, "The Rabbit Effect". Dr. Harding will connect her research to leadership in the charter school environment, showing how compassion and human connection can be a catalyst for not only improving personal well-being but also fostering healthier, more resilient school communities. Learn practical strategies to lead with empathy and build a supportive environment for both staff and students.
Workshop Sessions
Catalyzing a High Impact Board | Dr. Jessica LeNeave
This workshop delves into the tools, frameworks and intricacies of fostering strong board dynamics, enhancing communication, and cultivating a culture of accountability. Participants will explore how to effectively use performance data and stakeholder input to guide decision-making, ensuring actions are not only aligned with the school's mission but also responsive to its unique challenges and opportunities. By focusing on long-term strategic planning, leadership evaluation and succession planning, boards can serve as a catalyst for meaningful, sustainable school improvement and positive student outcomes.
Early-Year Essentials: What School Leaders Need to Know | Dr. Natalie Lewis
During this interactive workshop, leaders will explore the relationship between their values, vision and reputation. Often, in the whirlwind that is public education, leaders experience tension over whether or not they should show up as their “leader” self or their "real" self. This session will provide attendees with three key priorities to consider that can serve as healthy catalysts within the leadership journey.
Evolving Choice: Today's Unconventional Education Trends â and the Implications for Charters | Mickey Revenaugh
There's no question that today's parents embrace school choice. However, the options they consider now have expanded to include hybrid homeschooling, microschools, roadschooling, and more. It's a trend seen across the country, even in states like Colorado that have been cautious about public funding for these options. Join Mickey for an exploration of the various catalysts of a rapidly mutating educational choice ecosystem, including implications for charters and the strategies every charter school leader should consider as a result.
Authorizing for Impact: Bridging the Gap Between Doers and Decision-Makers
| MacKenzie Khan
In this authorizer-focused workshop, participants will explore strategies to enhance collaboration between authorizer staff and school board decision-makers. Through discussion and examples from CACSA's cross-state partners in Florida and California, as well as examples from Colorado, attendees will gain insights into successful partnerships that prioritize the needs of those implementing educational initiatives on the ground. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with tools to bridge the gap between doers and decision-makers, ultimately authorizing for greater impact in education.
Model Authorizing in 2024 | MacKenzie Khan
Join us for an engaging panel featuring leading authorizers from Colorado, as well as guests from California and Florida, as they share their best practices and success stories in the field of education authorizing. This session will explore innovative strategies that have led to effective oversight and support for schools, highlighting the unique approaches of each state and district. Panelists will discuss their experiences in navigating challenges, fostering collaboration, and ensuring accountability, while emphasizing student outcomes. Attendees will gain valuable insights and actionable takeaways to better understand their local authorizing practices and drive positive change in their regions.
Colorado Policy Primer 2024 | Dan Schaller, Kyle DeBeer, Prateek Dutta, Kayla Tibbals
As we navigate an increasingly unpredictable political landscape, Colorado stands at a critical juncture for education policy. Join our panel as we explore current ballot measures and rumors circulating at the state Capital. We'll also provide insight into the League's proactive policy agenda for the 2025 legislative session.
SpEd Enrollment Rule Changes: A Snapshot of Impact Two Years Later | Kaci Coats
It has been two years since the state made changes to the rule regarding choice enrollment of students with disabilities, and there continues to be stories of gaps in its implementation. What is the impact of these gaps? Where do we go from here? In this session, participants will gain knowledge and resources to help them navigate choice recruitment, enrollment, and the offer of a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) of students with disabilities.
Transforming the Status Quo: AI "Co-Intelligence" to "Collective Intelligence" | Antonio Vigil
Challenge the current status quo by exploring what happens when schools shift the paradigm from technical AI applications to an adaptive, critically aligned approach. Using Aurora Public Schools' pioneering epistemology and strategic framework for AI integration, this workshop offers a moonshot for reimagining public education with AI as the catalyst. Based on real-world lessons, we'll explore how to (1) innovate learning ecosystems with AI; (2) focus on measurable, impactful outcomes; and (3) avoid the pitfalls of ineffective integration. This presentation isn't just about AI in education; it's about reshaping the future of teaching and learning.