Open Door Sessions

Discover how Hemet Unified School District transformed student behavior and campus safety through a daily, data-driven collaboration process. By combining real-time data tracking with focused, action-oriented huddles, Hemet USD empowered site leaders and staff to identify challenges early, solve problems collectively, and deliver immediate improvements. Learn how this simple but powerful system led to measurable reductions in student aggression and suspensions—and how you can adapt these strategies to drive change in your own schools.

This Open Door session showcases Fresno Unified School District’s focused efforts to increase graduation and A–G completion rates among African American students through deep relationship-building, mentorship, and targeted supports. The presentation explores the evolution of the African American Student Leadership Academy (AASLA) and the introduction of the African American 9th Grade Academy (AA9A), highlighting how these programs provide academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support to students across multiple years. Featuring the voices of students and parents who participated in various cohorts, as well as reflections from district leaders, the session offers a compelling look at how Fresno Unified created a sustainable infrastructure that connects students to caring adults and higher education opportunities—including formal partnerships with UC Merced and CSU Fresno. This recording offers insights for educators and leaders seeking to build equity-centered systems that uplift and empower Black scholars.

In this Open Door webinar, Bakersfield City School District shares its journey to streamline and strengthen its assessment system by eliminating redundancy and aligning assessments with instructional priorities. The session explores how the district conducted an inventory of existing assessments, refined its assessment calendar, and developed a more balanced approach that prioritizes both instructionally useful assessments and meaningful data collection. Designed for district and site leaders, assessment and curriculum coordinators, and educators, this session offers practical tools, implementation strategies, and lessons learned to help participants evaluate and enhance their own local assessment practices.

This Open Door session, presented in partnership with the Riverside County Office of Education, highlights the LCAP Monitoring & Evaluation Tracking Tool, a resource designed to help districts systematically track, assess, and refine their Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs) and School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA).

The session features insights from Riverside COE and Lake Elsinore USD, covering the tool’s development, key implementation strategies, and practical applications in a district setting. Participants gain an understanding of how this tool supports data-driven decision-making, promotes alignment across plans, and enhances overall accountability. Additionally, the session includes access to supporting resources such as a downloadable tool and tutorial video, providing district leaders with practical solutions for improving their LCAP and SPSA processes.

In the final session of our Chronic Absenteeism Bright Spots series, we explore how clear health and attendance guidance positively impacts student attendance and fosters a supportive school culture. Through a panel discussion with leaders from Livingston Union School District, the session highlights real-world strategies for effectively communicating about health and attendance. These approaches prioritize the well-being of students, families, and staff, demonstrating how schools create healthier, more connected environments where students thrive and attendance rates improve. Participants gain actionable insights to enhance their schools’ approaches to health, attendance, and community well-being.

In the second session of our Chronic Absenteeism Bright Spots series, we’ll explore the vital connection between social-emotional learning (SEL) and school attendance. This session will examine how SEL plays a crucial role in keeping students engaged and present. Through a panel discussion with Kings Canyon Unified School District, you’ll gain insights on how schools promote the social-emotional health of students and families, foster emotional and physical connections within the school community, and integrate SEL into daily practices. We’ll also discuss how ELOP (Expanded Learning Opportunities Program) funding has been utilized to strengthen SEL connections, addressing challenges and forming innovative partnerships. Join us to learn how enhancing social-emotional well-being can lead to improved attendance and a more connected school environment.

Discover actionable strategies to address chronic absenteeism and strengthen connections within your school community in this engaging Open Door session, the first of a 3-part series. We’ll explore why chronic absence matters, as evidenced by national and state data, and dive into the critical role trust and engagement play in boosting attendance–especially post-pandemic. Through a panel discussion with Cypress, one of three Bright Spots districts, you’ll gain insights on how to build meaningful family and student engagement, rebuild trust, and implement effective strategies. You'll also walk away with practical tools to create a supportive environment where every student feels valued.

This webinar on addressing extreme heat on school playgrounds highlights how Pasadena Unified School District and Long Beach Unified School District have successfully greenified their schoolyards to combat rising temperatures and create safer, more sustainable play environments for their students. Watch the recording and explore the resources to gain valuable insights and practical strategies for your own school's climate resilience efforts.

This exciting session will feature participants from Yolo County Office of Education, Santa Barbara Unified School District, and Modesto City Schools. YCOE is currently building a microgrid which will protect their critical facilities and leverage Investment Tax Credits from the federal Inflation Reduction Act. SBUSD installed a microgrid which will save them $14M over the next 20 years. MCS is using solar carports, EV chargers, and electric school buses to transition to energy-resilient facilities and bring in $17M of state and federal dollars to their district. Come learn from these forward-thinking leaders about how to leverage climate adaptation to drive cost savings and resilience.

In response to California’s new Mathematics Framework, the Rural Math Collaborative (RMC) has made significant strides in redefining mathematics education in small, rural settings. Led by Lake County and Butte County, in partnership with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE), the RMC is a dynamic network of twenty counties dedicated to elevating math instruction and achievement. The session highlighted how the RMC leadership team is accelerating math learning through targeted instructional coaching, intervention, and Lesson Study approaches, and how collaboration among member counties is enhancing educational outcomes in rural schools. Additionally, a new, free statewide asynchronous course developed by the California Mathematics Project (CMP) was introduced, designed to deepen educators’ understanding of the new Mathematics Framework. If you missed the live event, slides and an archived video are available to gain valuable insights into effective strategies for improving mathematics instruction in rural areas.

Embark on a journey through the first installment of a captivating three-part webinar series, delving deep into climate change policies and preparedness within the TK-12 Education System. Developed through a dynamic collaboration between Undaunted K12 and Ten Stands, this series promises insightful exploration and actionable strategies. In this first session, the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) and the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) will address the increasing threat of climate emergencies to our schools and communities. Accompanied by subject matter experts from the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), we aim to provide a comprehensive perspective on this pressing issue.

The session introduced The Center for Whole-Child Education’s report, “Strengthening Coherence Across Initiatives: A Whole-Child Lens,” which explores California’s educational framework and the integration of the "whole-child" approach. If you missed the event, slides and an archived video are available below. The report delves into the transformative philosophy of whole-child education and its impact on California's educational landscape, highlighting the integration of multiple initiatives aimed at fostering holistic student development. It offers insights from leading districts successfully implementing whole-child practices and provides actionable strategies and tips to promote coherence in educational settings.

In this session, the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) shares how they tackled the critical challenge of improving student progress tracking in reading and math. Discover how they identified the gaps in their local assessment data and how they initiated the Local Assessment Project to fill this void. This session provides valuable insights into creating a secure portal of focused, interactive reports, with a comprehensive view of student status and growth at various levels – county, region, district, and school.

This session focuses on the core concepts of Balanced Assessment Systems, particularly formative assessments, and its application in the core content area of mathematics. Rincon Valley Union School District (RVUSD), a district located in Sonoma County, shares their learning journey in fostering formative assessment practices by leveraging the mathematical learning progressions from the Ongoing Assessment Project (OGAP). RVUSD leaders also share the role of progress monitoring tools such as teacher and learner surveys, as well as classroom walkthrough protocols in the implementation of Balanced Assessment Systems. 

A data dashboard can be a powerful tool when considering how to track the effectiveness of program implementation and efficacy. There are a myriad of factors to consider when deciding what dashboarding can provide your LEA. In this session, San Ramon Valley Unified School District shares how to link data dashboarding with progress monitoring to increase intervention efficacy. Ultimately, LEAs can use a data dashboard to evaluate which interventions have the highest impact to help ensure students make gains when additional supports are identified. 

This session invites leading expert practitioners from across California for an enlightening panel discussion that delves into the transformative world of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). These practitioners will share insights into the exciting developments and initiatives currently underway to support UDL in various educational settings. This discussion is designed to explore big ideas, share groundbreaking work, and discuss potential next steps to foster the implementation of UDL within the Golden State’s educational framework.

This session, led by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, is dedicated to addressing the increasing integration of AI in education. It highlights the necessity for ethical and responsible AI usage guidelines, detailing the support provided to LA County’s districts through symposiums, collaborations, and professional development. The session also covers a needs assessment survey to understand stakeholder perspectives on AI in education, offering insights on replication strategies for similar initiatives.

This session invites school principals and teacher leaders from Madera Unified School District to provide an inside look at how they are reimagining education at their schools. Through the Intensive Assistance Model pilot, these educators have implemented powerful new strategies – centered on teacher collaboration and meeting individual student needs – that are delivering remarkable results. They will be sharing how their schools are moving beyond pandemic recovery through dedicated professional learning communities and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.

This session dives deeply into the collaborative efforts between Fresno County Superintendent of Schools and Kings Canyon Unified School District to craft the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). By focusing on the vital aspects of partnerships, the local context, educational input, and needs assessments, participants will gain practical insights into how to ensure the LCAP is an effective strategic plan for the LEA. These insights will help drive lasting progress and promote equitable outcomes within educational communities. This session will also highlight the importance of consistent two-way communication, the integration of resources, and guidance to assist in identifying and addressing student needs throughout the process while ensuring compliance within the framework of the LCAP template.

Across the state, dozens of school districts (and some charter schools and county offices of education) have convened their communities to create a Graduate Profile to more holistically and equitably define student success. Once developed, a Graduate Profile serves as a lever for change that leads to a renewed vision and definition of the college and career-ready student, supports the whole child approach to learning, serves as an impetus for shifting instructional practices and engaging students in deeper learning, and requires a shift in assessments that provide students authentic ways to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. The result of this transformation is a learning process that is more equitable, student-centered, and competency-based. In this session, you'll learn how these Graduate Profiles serve as a driver for a renewed vision, improved equity, deeper learning, and student agency.

Hope Elementary School District's success is driven by its commitment to transparency, data-driven decision-making, and empowering our students to take ownership of their educational journey. This session delves into how they openly share and analyze data, fostering a collaborative environment where educators, parents, and students work together to identify strengths, address challenges, and celebrate achievements. They share how students take an active role in their learning by engaging in the data collection process, enabling them to set personal goals, track progress, and take pride in their academic growth. 

With the deluge of plans, templates, and deadlines flooding LEAs post-pandemic, County Offices are uniquely positioned to provide much-needed support to frequently short-staffed LEAs burdened with completing these critical tasks. Fresno County Superintendent of Schools (FCSS)’s LCAP and Compliance team seeks to ease this burden by providing easy-to-use organizational tools that cut to the heart of what LEAs need to do to stay compliant. The FCSS State & Federal Calendar is one such tool that has become a staple in the offices of administrators throughout Fresno County.

How has the role of county offices of education (COEs) in improving attendance changed over time? Traditionally, COEs lead the county SARB process to address truancy. This is evolving to support districts to reduce chronic absence through the LCAP and Differentiated Assistance processes. In this panel presentation, Monterey County Office of Education and Sacramento County Office of Education explore ways in which COEs are positively impacting student attendance practices. This is the third session of the Shifting Mindsets on Chronic Absenteeism series.

How can districts use attendance data to inform action to improve student engagement and reduce chronic absence? Salinas Elementary School District shares their lessons learned in leveraging data to shift from a punitive approach focused on unexcused absences to intentional investments in relationship building and positive conditions for learning. This is the second session of the Shifting Mindsets on Chronic Absenteeism series.

What does it take to improve the quality of mathematics instruction on a large scale? Merced COE has addressed this question by creating a Comprehensive Improvement Plan weaving together five key components: ambitious instruction, job-embedded coaching, PLC support, building capacity of leaders, and improvement science. Their mathematical philosophy embeds a whole child approach, considering and prioritizing the full scope of child development – social, emotional, cognitive and academic, as well as physical and mental health. This approach understands that in order to reach their full potential, students need access to safe and welcoming learning environments and rich learning experiences.

Did you know that the overuse of the “unexcused” label for student absences could deepen education inequities and interfere with efforts to improve attendance? In this session, we hear about the findings of a new PACE report, Examining Disparities in Unexcused Absences Across California Schools, and explore how to use Dataquest to examine disparities and identify bright spots in your district or county. This is the first session of the Shifting Mindsets on Chronic Absenteeism series.

In this session, Fairmont Elementary shares the work they have done over the last 10 years to redesign curriculum, instruction, assessment and accountability systems through the implementation of Student Learning Communities. Fairmont describes how it is using the Whole Child Design Framework to build authentic systems of assessment that are culturally and linguistically responsive, provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their learning and development in a variety of ways, and are designed to measure growth and progress.