The Association of California School Administrators provides a full range of academies, in eleven leadership specializations, to meet your needs as a school administrator, confidential employee or classified manager.

Because ACSA represents all members of the district management team, we can help you build the administrative and leadership skills needed in your current job, while preparing you to take advantage of career advancement opportunities.

ACSA's job-specific academies provide a solid foundation of training in the application of leadership and management fundamentals for administrators who are new to advance leadership positions or aspiring to the same. The academies are seen as the "fast track" to your career as a superintendent, principal, business manager, curriculum and instruction or personnel administrator, special education/pupil services director, confidential employee or classified manager.

We invite you to take advantage of these exceptional high quality professional learning opportunities as ACSA continues to innovate to better meet your needs.

Registration and Cancellation Information:

Enrollment is limited to the first 30 registrants. Registration fees do not include meals.

To avoid registration cancellation, an appropriate form of payment must be received no later than three weeks before the scheduled Academy start date. Registrants may re-register with appropriate form of payment.

Cancellations must be in writing a minimum of 15 days prior to the program date to be eligible for a refund. A service fee is charged for all cancellations. The following scale will be used for all cancellation requests. NOTE: Each cancellation notice received will be reviewed on an individual basis.
60 days prior - Full refund less $50 service fee
30 days prior - Full refund less $75 service fee
15 days prior - 50% refund
14 days or less - No refund

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Academies at a Glance

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ACSA Membership must be active at time of registration and for the duration of the academy year to benefit from participation at the ACSA member rate.

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ACSA is very appreciative of the caliber, commit, and dedication of all of this year's scholarship applicants. We are pleased to announce that all 2018-19 Academy scholarships, ten scholarships for $500 each, have been awarded to particularly deserving ACSA member applicants. We encourage that members seeking financial support to attend an ACSA Academy contact their ACSA Region for local professional development scholarships that may still be available.

Region Scholarships

We encourage members to check with your local region for the availability of professional development scholarships.

Intended Audience
Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents of Instruction; Project Directors, Curriculum Directors, Intervention Specialists; Site Administrators; District and County Office Administrators including those aspiring to central office curriculum and instructional leadership; School Board Members

The ACSA Curriculum and Instructional Leaders Academy introduces participants to a variety of strategies for developing effective instructional practices based on current student learning and assessment theories. Presentations and discussion sessions are conducted by an experienced faculty of current practitioners. This academy enables new or aspiring curriculum and instructional leaders to experience and begin to develop fundamental skills needed to address standard-based reforms, including assessment, curriculum, monitoring and evaluation of instructional programs for their schools and districts within the context of local control accountability planning and the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).

For CTC-approved Clear Administrative Services Credential programs, and with prior approval of the credentialing program leadership, academy hours may be used toward completing annual required professional development requirements.

Specific themes include:

• Quality instruction for all
• Meeting diverse student need
• State and federal mandates and accountability
• Personalizing learning in standards-based systems
• Instructional materials selection (traditional, online, electronic, open-source)
• Meeting "categorical" needs with "flexible" funding (Local Control and Accountability Plan - LCAP)
• From transition to implementation of the California State Standards for ELA, ELD, Math and Next Generation Science
• Student assessments: formative and summative (SBAC)
• The changing world of teacher and program evaluation
• Literacy in all subject areas

The academy meets on Friday evenings, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.* The extensive course syllabus and materials each participant receives are an exceptional resource for ongoing reference.

*Please note that Saturday hours for this academy may vary.

Intended Audience
Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents of Instruction; Project Directors, Curriculum Directors, Intervention Specialists; Site Administrators; District and County Office Administrators including those aspiring to central office curriculum and instructional leadership; School Board Members

The English Language Learner Academy, ACSA's newest academy, is designed to provide administrators with the most up-to-date information in order to be successful instructional and compliance administrators at all levels and areas of responsibility related to programs and services for English Language Learners. The academy focuses on leadership for accountability, instruction, and advocacy for English Language Learners by integrating the principles of:

• organizational and cultural environment,
• dynamics of strategic issues management,
• ethical and reflective leadership,
• analysis and development of public policy, and
• management of information systems and human and fiscal resources

within the context of local control accountability planning, the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

For CTC-approved Clear Administrative Services Credential programs, and with prior approval of the credentialing program leadership, academy hours may be used toward completing annual required professional development requirements. Themes are aligned to the California Performance Standards for Educational Leadership (CPSEL).

Specific themes include:

• Historical and statewide perspective of bilingual education.
• State and Federal Laws.
• Assessments, Identification and Reclassification.
• Climate and Culture, Systemic Reform, Systems Thinking.
• Equity and Access: examination of bias and beliefs, interrupting patters of inequity.
• Leading the implementation of the Frameworks.
• Designated and integrated ELD placement, equity and access.
• High Quality Instruction, RtI, intervention, prevention and Special Education.
• Advocacy.
• Current Issues and Ethical Leadership.
• Supervision of instruction to focus on what designated and integrated ELD instruction look like in the classroom.

*Please note that Saturday hours for this academy may vary.

Dates & Locations

Lake Balboa
Stagg Elementary School - Library, 7839 Amestoy Avenue, Lake Balboa, CA 91406
Directors: Angel Barrett & Yvonne Contreras
Sept. 14-15; Oct. 5-6; Nov. 30-Dec. 1; Jan. 11-12, 2019; Feb. 8-9; March 8-9; April 5-6

Event Registration

Registration Fees:
ACSA Member: $1,285
Non-Member: $2,570

Register online

Intended Audience
District and site teams including Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, Site Administrators, Equity Administrators; County Office Administrators and teams; those responsible for LCAP implementation, interested in educational equity, and in closing achievement gaps in their schools and districts; School Board Members

The ACSA Equity Leaders Academy recognizes that equitable leaders have a deep belief system and understanding of diversity that empower them to be proactive and responsive to the needs of those they serve. The ACSA Equity Leaders Academy is designed to build leadership capacity in cultural proficiency. The academy will equip participants to meet the California Professional Standard for Educational Leadership (CPSEL) #5 through demonstrating the ability to “make decisions, model, and behave in ways that demonstrate ethics, integrity, justice, and equity and hold staff to the same standard.” Participants will develop and implement new ways of thinking and apply practical strategies in serving students, staff, parents and community members consistent with the context of local control accountability planning and the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).

All protected classes (including but not limited to LGBTQ, gender, disabilities, and language) fall under the scope of this work. The academy focuses on intentional and strategic efforts to provide relevant support that can be applied effectively to serve all marginalized groups. The academy is excellent preparation for leading equity and for pursuing equity leadership positions within districts and counties that have resulted from LCFF/LCAP initiatives.

Specific themes include:

• Awareness of inequities
• Examination of biases and beliefs
• Building common language around equity
• Building a common understanding of the role of:
  – Race
  – Culture
  – Power
  
• Establishing equity mindsets
• Interrupting patterns of inequity
• Applying ethical actions
• Engaging in reflective practices

Participants experience 70 hours of professional learning over seven weekends. The academy meets Friday evenings, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.*

*Please note that Saturday hours for this academy may vary.

Intended Audience
Site and district administrators, curriculum and instruction directors, Instructional Technology managers, Assessment Directors; members of teams leading instructional technology across school operations to improve student learning and outcomes; school leaders seeking to expand their skills in educational technology and curriculum innovation to support teachers in personalizing student learning and engaging students in 21st Century learning

In ACSA's iLearn, iLead, iTech Academy, each participant will explore foundational components of digital-age leadership as well as engage in hands-on, job-aligned, personalized learning for his or her technology needs. Participants will develop a personal learning network that will extend their learning well beyond the academy via a four-day face-to-face experience along with 24/7 learning opportunities in online, collaborative, global learning environments. This academy will equip leaders with innovative solutions to advance student achievement, foster educator productivity and extend learning opportunities for all. Participants will develop relevant applicable products and digital processes to lead and model effective technology use.

Using the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for School Administrators, the curriculum will engage participants in using Web 2.0 tools, resources and research to integrate contemporary technology into leadership practices, and learning activities that have practical, pertinent applications.

Coursework topics will include:

• Leading Technology Change.
• Instructional Models for Digital-Age Learning.
• Innovative Learning Environments.
• Digital Citizenship.
• Data Literacy and Privacy.
• Social Media for Marketing and Learning.
• Professional Learning and Presenting.

Participants will spend an average of 8-10 hours between face-to-face sessions to complete reading and research, curate online resources to create projects, and sharing and reflecting via online discussion forums. The Academy is lead by school administrators experienced in technology implementation who will work during class and online to support all participants to be successful.

Blended Learning Schedule:
Participants experience 70 hours of professional learning. The academy is scheduled in a blended learning format:

• 4 day-long, in-person sessions on Saturdays (8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
• An average of 8-10 hours between in-person sessions in collaborative online discussions and completing project-based independent work.

Intended Audience
District and Charter leadership teams are highly encouraged, including but not limited to, Superintendents, Chief Business Officials, Chief Academic Officers, Cabinet Members; leaders of Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) work at the site or district levels; Site Administrators; new or aspiring district leaders charged with school or district LCAP planning, strategy execution and implementation

The ACSA Leading Continuous Improvement to Support LCAP Implementation Academy focuses on leading schools and districts to become successful learning organizations. Participants will learn how to build and embed continuous improvement processes in their own local context. Developing practical skills, the academy will build participants' capacity for leading high quality planning and community/family engagement, strategic development, and implementation and monitoring of the LCAP. The academy is designed for teams or individuals responsible for leading and coordinating reform efforts focused on addressing achievement gaps and implementing equitable practices to effectively address diverse student needs. Practical tools and tips are incorporated in every session.

The Academy continues to evolve and refine in partnership and collaboration with WestEd.

For CTC-approved Clear Administrative Services Credential programs, and with prior approval of the credentialing program leadership, academy hours may be used toward completing annual required professional development requirements.

Specific themes include:

• Leading in the ever-changing California accountability landscape
• Developing continuous improvement systems for aligning local, state and federal priorities, and for allocating and leveraging resources
• Leading decision-making for prioritizing resources to ensure meaningful and equitable outcomes for students
• Planning and implementing sustainable, meaningful communication and engagement with diverse stakeholders
• Understanding and utilizing effective facilitation skills for working with diverse stakeholder groups
• Understanding metrics to better analyze quantitative and qualitative data to inform decision-making
• Accessing currently available tools and resources to support planning, ongoing development and implementation of the LCAP

• August academy weekend (Friday and Saturday) - 2 day-long, in-person sessions (8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
• September academy weekend (Saturday) - 2 three-hour virtual sessions (to be scheduled)
• October academy weekend (Friday and Saturday) - 2 day-long, in-person sessions (8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)

*Please note that individual location schedules for this academy may vary.

Personnel
Administrators

Personnel Administrators Academy

Intended Audience
New and aspiring principals; assistant and vice principals; Academic Coaches and new district or county office administrators responsible for supporting principals

The ACSA Principals Academy, for new or aspiring principals, is designed to build the capacity of the next generation of principals to become transformational leaders who can identify critical paradigm shifts, create a guiding and unifying vision through inspiration, and execute essential change with site staff. Presentations and interactive sessions are presented by experienced school administrators from a variety of departments involved in school and district operations, and experienced practicing school principals.

The intensive academy focus is on developing and refining applied leadership and management skills required of principals at the elementary, middle grades and high school levels within the context of local control accountability planning and the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).

For CTC-approved Clear Administrative Services Credential programs, and with prior approval of the credentialing program leadership, academy hours may be used toward completing annual required professional development requirements.

Specific themes include:

• Principal Leadership
• Leading the Implementation of the Common Core State Standards
• High Quality Instruction
• Learning Assessments
• Change and Growth
• Leadership
• School Climate and Culture
• Communication
• Finance
• Personnel/School Law

The extensive course syllabus and materials provided to participants are exceptional resources for ongoing reference and career planning.

Participants experience 70 hours of professional learning over seven weekends. The academy meets Friday evenings, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.*

*Please note that Saturday hours for this academy may vary.

*This academy will be co-located among three county offices of education in Region 1: Del Norte (Crescent City), Humboldt (Eureka) and Shasta (Redding). All participants will meet in Redding for the October and April weekends (#1 and #7) of the academy. When registering, each participant will select one county office location as the "home" location for weekends #2 through #6.

**The academies in Ontario and Region 1 will be offered simultaneously and with the same academy directors. That is, with the exception of the opening weekend at each location, video conference technology will be used for the duration of the academy to connect and actively engage participants at the Del Norte, Humboldt, and Shasta county office of education with the presenters delivering live presentations in Ontario. Each Region 1 location will be supported by an academy facilitator.

Intended Audience
Assistant Superintendents of Student Services; (general and Special Education) district administrators including coordinators and directors responsible for child welfare and attendance; district and county office pupil services administrators; site administrators, school counselors, school psychologists; those aspiring to pupil services leadership; School Board Members

The ACSA Pupil Services Academy addresses what pupil services administrators, at all levels and areas of responsibility, need to understand to be successful. The academy is designed with a consistent focus on leadership, communication, prevention and intervention. The academy integrates the principles of:

• organization and cultural environment,
• dynamics of strategic issues management,
• ethical and reflective leadership,
• analysis and development of public policy, and
• management of information systems and human and fiscal resources

within the context of local control accountability planning and the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).

For CTC-approved Clear Administrative Services Credential programs, and with prior approval of the credentialing program leadership, academy hours may be used toward completing annual required professional development requirements.

Specific themes include:

• Standard due process
• Standard records
• State and federal laws affecting standards
• Section 504 issues
• Advocacy for standards
• Alternative programs
• Enrollment processes
• Special education issues
• Transition from school to career
• Multi-agency coordination/SARB
• Program assessment
• Current issues
  

Participants experience 70 hours of professional learning over seven weekends. The academy meets on Friday evenings, 5:00–9:00 p.m., and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.*

*Please note that Saturday hours for this academy may vary.

Intended Audience
Superintendents and Cabinet members; newly appointed and aspiring Chief Business Officers; Educational Services and Human Resources administrators, principals, and other district staff seeking an in-depth introduction to school business operations; School Board Members

The ACSA School Business Academy provides a comprehensive, concentrated curriculum tailored to the unique demands of business management in the education setting. The academy is the only source of specialized training in all facets of school business operations available to new or aspiring school business administrators. Presentations and discussion sessions are led by seasoned professionals who use practical examples of effective business management techniques.

The School Business Academy focuses on building the practical skills and understanding of organizational principles required for today’s administrators within the context of local control accountability planning and the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). This academy meets the requirements of Module 1 for Chief Business Official certification from the California Association of School Business Officials(CASBO).

For CTC-approved Clear Administrative Services Credential programs, and with prior approval of the credentialing program leadership, academy hours may be used towards completing annual required professional development requirements.

Specific themes include:

• Selection, training and supervision of staff
• Superintendent, CBO, board relations
• Strategic planning
• Legislation
• Leadership characteristics of CBO

• Legal provisions and restrictions
• Estimating attendance, enrollments, income and expenditures
• Budget, calendar planning and development
• Managing school district budgets including site-based curriculum and curriculum-driven budgets

• Standard account code structures
• History of school finance
• Financing alternatives
• Understanding base revenue limits and Special Education funding
• Purpose of auditing
• Attendance accounting

• Facilities planning, construction and financing
• Purchasing and warehousing
• Pupil transportation
• Food services
• Technology and information management
• Risk management
• Maintenance and operations
• Entrepreneurship

Participants experience 100 hours of professional learning over 10 weekends. The academy meets on Friday evenings, 5:00–9:00 p.m., and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.*

*Please note that Saturday hours for this academy may vary.

*The ACSA School Business Academy at this location (San Luis Obisbo COE) is offered as the first module in a sequence of training offered by the California of School Business Officials (CASBO) ultimately leading to CBO certification. This Academy is available to ACSA and CASBO members. Participants successfully completing the Academy will receive an ACSA Academy Certificate of Completion and may elect to continue in the training sequence to earn additional CASBO school business certifications.

Intended Audience
Assistant Superintendents and Directors of Special Education or Student Services; program coordinators, intervention specialists; district and site administrators responsible for special education at the school, district or SELPA levels; aspiring special education administrators; those seeking to improve their knowledge and skills in service to students

The ACSA Special Education Academy provides current and relevant training for successful special education administrators at all levels and areas of responsibilty related to special education programs and services. Participants are provided essential information and resources through a consistent academy focus on leadership, communication, prevention and intervention. The academy integrates:

• principles of organization and cultural environment,
• dynamics of strategic issues management,
• ethical and reflective leadership,
• analysis of public policy,
• management of information systems, and human and fiscal resources

in consideration of the larger implications of funding and accountability relevant to special education, and to local control accountability planning and the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). The academy highlights legal and practical implementation features related to special education topics and themes, and provides a firm foundation for working within the educational services realms of general education and special education at the district level.

For CTC-approved Clear Administrative Services Credential programs, and with prior approval of the credentialing program leadership, academy hours may be used towards completing annual required professional development requirements.

• Historical and statewide perspective of special education
• Section 504 and ADA regulations and requirements
• Multi-Tiered System of Supports and Universal Design for Learning for all students
• Assessment and procedural safeguards for ensuring a quality IEP
• Facilitated IEPs and Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Positive working relationships with parents and families
• Preparation for mediation and due process hearings
• Placement/service issues, procedural safeguards related to discipline
• Special Education transitions
• Curriculum, instruction and California State Standards for special education students
• Behavior and discipline issues
• State and federal laws affecting special education
• Equity issues and special education, disproportionality and English Learners
• Advocacy for students with disabilities
• Current issues facing special education, including Legal Hot Topics
• Funding and budget development related to LCAP and LCFF
• Human resources/credentialing issues and staffing/evaluation of special education programs
• Educational reform inclusive of special education
• State and Federal accountability and evaluation

Participants experience 70 hours of professional learning over seven weekends. The academy meets on Friday evenings, 5:00-9:00 p.m., and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.*

*Please note that Saturday hours for this academy may vary.

Superintendents

Superintendents Academy