Workshops & Sessions
Changing the SpEd Landscape: Readiness Factors for Charter Special Education Administration Units
Speakers: Kaci Coats, Executive Director, Collaborative for Exceptional Education; Christina Vidovich, Director of Exceptional Student Services, Minga Education Group
With recent changes in Colorado legislation, charter schools now have the opportunity to explore forming their own Special Education Administrative Units (AUs). Leaders must weigh organizational readiness, compliance responsibilities, and opportunities for autonomy and innovation. This session will unpack the benefits and challenges of AU designation, share lessons from the field, and provide a framework to help schools assess their capacity to take on this critical role.
Paper to People: Rethinking How We Authorize
Speaker: Mackenzie Khan, Executive Director, CACSA
How can authorizers move beyond a compliance-driven process to center people—founding teams, school leaders, students, families, and communities—at every stage of the work? Building on recent research and NACSA guidance, this session explores how to shift the rigor of authorizing from paperwork to practice. From application to launch to ongoing oversight, we will examine tools like capacity interviews, site visits, and relationship-driven monitoring to highlight the factors that truly determine a school’s success: its people.
Authorizing Basics: What It Is and Why It Matters
Speaker: Mackenzie Khan, Executive Director, CACSA
What exactly do charter school authorizers do, and why does it matter for students and families? This session provides a straightforward overview for those not directly in the role. Participants will learn how authorizers approve, oversee, renew, and, when necessary, close schools, and why these responsibilities are critical to maintaining quality and equity. Drawing on work with the League and CACSA, this session will show how authorizing comes to life in practice and how districts are supported in carrying out this role effectively .
Policy in Motion: Building Advocacy for 2026
Speakers: Dr. Anne Keke & Prateek Dutta, Colorado of League Policy & Advocacy Team
Explore the wins and challenges of the 2025 legislative year, get ahead of the 2026 policy agenda, and gain practical tools through interactive advocate training to make your voice count at the Capitol.
From the Capitol to the Classroom: Previewing the 2026 Legislative Session
Speakers: Senate President James Coleman & House Speaker Julie McCluskie
Join legislative leaders for an inside look at the challenges and opportunities shaping the upcoming session and what it could mean for your school. We’ll also share the latest polling data on how Coloradans view public education and charter schools.
Fundamentals of AI – Lunch & Learn
Speaker: Zach Kennelly, Senior Manager of STEM, AI and Partnerships
This dynamic session is designed to demystify AI and empower charter school leaders with foundational strategies for leveraging AI in human-centered ways. We’ll explore practical use cases that enhance—not replace—human expertise, highlight powerful practices for innovation and equity, and help you lead with confidence as AI tools become part of school operations.
AI for Admin: The Art of the Prompt
Speaker: Zach Kennelly, Senior Manager of STEM, AI and Partnerships
Unlock the power of AI to streamline your work and amplify your impact. This hands-on workshop explores the art and science of crafting effective prompts—the key to turning AI tools into powerful partners. You’ll gain a clear framework for writing high-quality prompts, see real-world examples tailored for school leaders, and have time to practice with AI tools for administrative tasks, communications, and repetitive workflows.