ACSA is Your Career Partner

The Association of California School Administrators provides a full range of academies, in 10 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 or aspiring to advanced leadership positions. 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 or pupil services director, confidential employee or classified manager.

In the ACSA academy program, in every leadership specialization, effective professional learning plays a vital role in expanding participants' capacity for equity- minded leadership. We invite you to take advantage of these exceptional high-quality professional learning opportunities as ACSA continues to innovate to better meet your needs.

ACSA's Aspirations for You

ACSA Academy Program participation distinguishes you as an educational leader who intentionally seeks to expand your professional learning, skills and networking with a statewide community of learners. ACSA holds the following aspirations for your maximum benefit from, and contribution, to the Academy program:

• Engage consistently, meaningfully and actively throughout the Academy.
• Actualize your Academy commitment through responsibility, accountability, motivation and grit.
• Share and apply what you are learning in the Academy with colleagues in your job and organization.
• Expand your curiosity for learning, your compassion for yourself and others, and your professional network.
• Earn your Academy Certificate of Completion at the end of the Academy year.

Academies continue to evolve

Academy commitments

As you consider registering for an Academy cohort, please think carefully about the commitment you would need to make regarding each of the following:

ACSA is grateful and honored to be an integral part of your professional learning, networking and career advancement.

Registration and Cancellation Information:

Enrollment is limited to the first 30 registrants.

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.

30 days prior - Full refund less $75 service fee
15 days prior - 50% refund
14 days or less - No refund

2024-2025 Academy Catalog

2024-2025 Academies At-A-Glance

Not an ACSA member yet? Complete the online membership application form to trigger the ACAD24 ($2/day) promotional rate* (*based upon eligibility)!

What are the benefits of academy participation?
Academies offer a number of distinctive professional learning benefits including:

• Sustained, job-embedded professional learning that is supported by extensive materials and resources, and extended professional networking.
• ACSA Academy Certificate of Completion: highly respected statewide for premier professional development for school administrators.
• Academy hours may be used toward satisfying professional development requirements for the clear administrative services credential (see additional credentialing information on page 7 of the 2022-23 Academy catalog).

Note: Academies are not an independent clear administrative services credential pathway.

What are ACSA's aspirations for you?
Your participation in the ACSA Academy Program distinguishes you as an educational leader who intentionally seeks to grow in your professional knowledge, skills and connections. As a community of learners, Academy participants engage in professional learning and networking with fellow educational leaders statewide. ACSA holds the following aspirations for your maximum benefit from and contribution to the Academy program:

• Engage consistently, meaningfully, actively throughout the Academy.
• Actualize Academy commitment through responsibility, accountability, motivation and grit.
• Share and applying what you are learning in the Academy with colleagues in your job and organization.
• Expand your curiosity for learning, your compassion for yourself and others, and your professional network.
• Earn your Academy Certificate of Completion at the end of the Academy Year.

What are your Academy commitments as a participant?
As you consider registering for an Academy, please think carefully about the commitment you would need to make regarding each of the following:

• Academy meeting dates. Calendar and prioritize meeting dates, including those on selected holiday weekends, to attend all Academy sessions as scheduled.
• Academy program design. Honor the investment of the Academy directors and presenters to plan, coordinate and delivery an in-depth Academy experience that is articulated, consistent within each leadership specialization, and rich in practical resources and networking.
• Academy norms. Support and contribute to the culture and atmosphere for professional learning and networking.
• Community of learners. Make learning meaningful for your yourself and fellow participants, and engage with presenters.
  • Attend to being prepared, being prompt and providing feedback for every Academy sessions.
  • Anticipate and look forward to the benefit, impact and possibility of every Academy weekend.

ACSA is grateful and honored to be an integral part of your professional learning, networking and career advancement.

What time do the Academy sessions meet?
Academy Weekends include 10 hours of professional learning and networking. Generally, you can expect an Academy weekend to convene on Fridays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please note that meeting times may vary slightly for individual academy cohorts.

How many Academy specializations are there?
Academies range in duration from 70 to 100 hours and offer 10 hours of professional learning on each of seven to ten academy weekends (see individual academy descriptions for additional details).

What Academy program formats are offered?
The academy program will continue to expand opportunities statewide for enhancing job-embedded professional learning by offering multiple program formats:

What is ACSA's Equity lens in the Academy program?
At ACSA, we believe that every child deserves access and opportunity to quality teaching and learning every day, regardless of his or her ZIP code or family income. Socioeconomic conditions, race, gender, ethnic background, and other factors should not be barriers for educational attainment.

How do I register?

Each participant must register themselves by logging into their ACSA member account, or create a non-member account, to begin the registration process. Pre-registration is required for all ACSA academies. Space is limited, so early registration is a must.

To register for an ACSA academy, choose the tab with the Academy specialization that you would like to attend and click on Register Now. You will be directed to the Academy Summary, please review then click to Register. You will be prompted to log into your ACSA member account or create a non-member account. You may register with a credit card, purchase order or you may set up a monthly installment plan to pay the registration fee in three consecutive monthly installments using a credit card.

How many cohorts can I register for?
Participants may register for one Academy cohort per year.

How much are Academy registration fees?
Academy registration fees are based upon the number of hours and cohort format.

Will I be notified that my registration has been received?

ACSA will email you confirmation of registration and enrollment upon receipt of your completed registration which needs to include one of the following: Payment in full; payment of the first of three installments; or provision of a valid Purchase Order number.

Please go to www.acsa.org/academies to register for Academy cohorts with space still available.

What if I have to cancel at the last minute?
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.

• 30 days prior...................Full refund less $75 service fee
• 15 days prior...................50% refund
• 14 days or less................No refund

How are Academy scholarships available?
ACSA academy scholarship funding is available for regular ACSA members who have a commitment to educational quality, student achievement, and professional growth, and who can demonstrate a financial need. Please see the Scholarships tab for more information.

What if a cohort is cancelled?
Sometimes, due to insufficient enrollment or other circumstances, ACSA must cancel an academy. Should that occur, we will transfer each registrant’s registration to another academy of his/her choice or immediately process a full refund.

Which academy should I attend?
The chart below lists which academies should be attended by administrators in specific job categories — as well as by administrators who aspire to attain a position in a job category other than their own. Use the chart and the academy calendar to plan professional learning for your career development for the upcoming school year.

ACSA offers academy scholarship funding for members with financial need to attend job-specific academies. Academy scholarships are awarded exclusively for academy participation.

Who is eligible?

Regular ACSA members who have a commitment to educational quality, student achievement and professional growth, who can demonstrate a financial need, and who have not previously been awarded an Academy scholarship.

What is the scholarship amount?

Eight $500 scholarships and one $1,000 scholarship (for Superintendents only) will be awarded to recipients selected by the Academy Scholarships Selection Committee.

What is the deadline?

Applications and related materials must be submitted directly to state ACSA through the 2024-25 Academy Scholarship Application link by Monday, July 8, 2024. Recipients will be notified in writing by July 26, 2024. Please email Trish Elmore with any questions.

Be sure to read additional Academy scholarship details on page 6 of the
2024-25 Academy Catalog.

2024-25 Academy Scholarship Application

Deadline to apply: Monday, July 8, 2024

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, and 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 needs.
• Leading system change and transition.
• State and federal mandates and accountability.
• Personalizing learning in standards-based systems.
• Instructional materials selection (traditional, online, electronic, open-source).
• Meeting student needs with coordinated funding (Local Control and Accountability Plan – LCAP).
• Implementation of the California State Standards for ELA, ELD, Math, History-Social Science, and Next Generation Science.
• Student assessments: formative and summative (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium – SBAC).
• Literacy in core content areas.

Academy sessions are particularly useful for educators managing changes that lead to the successful implementation of standards, assessment and accountability. The extensive course syllabus and materials each participant receives are exceptional resources for ongoing reference.

2024-2025 Meeting formats

Register with Credit Card, Purchase Order or 3 Month Installment Payment Plan

1. Payment will be due in full with a credit card or
2. A valid purchase order must be received to complete registration. Purchase order numbers alone are not sufficient as payment.
3. Under extenuating circumstances, you can setup a 3 month installment payment plan and pay in three consecutive monthly installments using a credit card

Registration Closed

C & I Leaders - Costa Mesa
Virtual/Online format
Director: Darlene Messinger

• September 13-14, 2024
• October 11-12, 2024
• November 1-2, 2024
  
• December 6-7, 2024
  
• January 10-11, 2025
  
• February 7-8, 2025
  
• March 7-8, 2025
• April 4-5, 2025

C & I Leaders - Torrance
Virtual/Online format

Director - Scott McDowell

• September 20-21, 2024
• October 25-26, 2024
• November 22-23, 2024
• December 13-14, 2024
• January 10-11, 2025
• February 21-22, 2025
• March 21-22, 2025
• April 25-26, 2025

C & I Leaders - Westminster
Hybrid Format
Westminster USD, District Office, Professional Learning Center, 14121 Cedarwood Street, Westminster, CA 92683
Director - Gunn Marie Hansen

• September 13-14, 2024
• October 18-19, 2024
• November 22-23, 2024
• December 13-14, 2024
• January 10-11, 2025
• February 21-22, 2025
• March 14-15, 2025
• April 25-26, 2025

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

• Building cultural proficiency to advance educational equity.
  
• Leading and designing for equity in complex systems for setting goals and planning actions in LCAPs (Local Control and Accountability Plan) and SPSAs (Single Plan for Student Achievement).
• Using data as an equity engine to set goals, plan actions, and leverage resources to meet those goals to improve student outcomes.
• Creating a strategic plan and vision for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
• Developing continuous improvement systems for aligning local, state and federal priorities, and for allocating and leveraging resources.
• Engaging family and community partners for Equity and Excellence.

2024-2025 Meeting format

Register with Credit Card, Purchase Order or 3 Month Installment Payment Plan

1. Payment will be due in full with a credit card or
2. A valid purchase order must be received to complete registration. Purchase order numbers alone are not sufficient as payment.
3. Under extenuating circumstances, you can setup a 3 month installment payment plan and pay in three consecutive monthly installments using a credit card

Registration Closed

Equity Administrators - South
Virtual/Online format
Director - Cherina Betters

• September 13-14, 2024
• October 4-5, 2024
• November 1-2, 2024
• December 13-14, 2024
• January 3-4, 2025
• February 7-8, 2025
• March 7-8, 2025

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 California State Standards.
• High quality instruction.
• Learning assessments.
• Change and growth.
• Leadership in challenging times.
• School climate and culture.
• Social Emotional Learning.
• Finance.
• Personnel/school law.
• Communication.

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

2024-2025 Meeting format

Register with Credit Card, Purchase Order or 3 Month Installment Payment Plan

1. Payment will be due in full with a credit card or
2. A valid purchase order must be received to complete registration. Purchase order numbers alone are not sufficient as payment.
3. Under extenuating circumstances, you can set up a 3 month installment payment plan and pay in three consecutive monthly installments using a credit card

Registration Closed

Principals - Rancho Cucamonga
Virtual/Online format
Director - Charles "Derrick" Lawson

• September 20-21, 2024
• October 11-12, 2024
• November 8-9, 2024
• December 13-14, 2024
• January 10-11, 2025
• February 7-8, 2025
• Feb. 28- March 1, 2025
• March 21-22, 2025

Principals - Sacramento
Virtual/Online format
Directors - Julie Braun Martin & Karen Sakata

• September 6-7, 2024
• October 4-5, 2024
• November 1-2, 2024
• December 6-7, 2024
• January 10-11, 2025
• February 7-8, 2025
• March 7-8, 2025
• April 4-5, 2025

Intended Audience
Assistant/Associate 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.

• 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

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:

• Enrollment Processes.
• Equity and Due Process.
• Leadership in Interagency Coordination and Community Outreach.
• Accountability and Evaluation.
• School Attendance and School Attendance Review Board (SARB).
• Alternatives to Discipline and Behavior Issues
• Safe Schools
• Suspension and Expulsion.
• School Placements, Transfers, and Appeals.
• Student Records, Confidentiality, and Custody Issues.
• Home and Hospital Instruction.
• Section 504 Issues.
• Intervention: Pre-Referral through Referral Process.
• Advocacy for Students.
• Registration Pupil Services.

2024-2025 Meeting format

Participants experience 70 hours of professional learning over seven extended Academy weekends in a Virtual/Online meeting format for 10 hours per weekend.

The academy meets on Fridays, 5:00p.m. - 8:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 8:30a.m. - 3:30 p.m.*
*Please note that Saturday hours may vary.

2024-2025 Pupil Services Academy Registration

ACSA Members - Virtual Cohort: $1,335
Non-Members - Virtual Cohort: $2,670

Register with Credit Card, Purchase Order or 3 Month Instalment Plan

1. Payment will be due in full with a credit card or
2. A valid purchase order must be received to complete registration. Purchase order numbers alone are not sufficient as payment.
3. Under extenuating circumstances, you can set up a 3 month installment payment plan and pay in three consecutive monthly installments using a credit card

Registration Closed

Pupil Services - Walnut Creek
Virtual/Online format
Director - Steven France

• September 6-7. 2024
• October 18-19, 2024
• December 13-14, 2024
• January 24-25, 2025
• February 21-22, 2025
• March 21-22, 2025
• April 11-12, 2025

Intended Audience
Superintendents and Cabinet members; newly appointed and aspiring Chief Business Officials; 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 is not part of a certification pathway. Administrators seeking Chief Business Official certification are encouraged to complete the Business Executives Leadership Program, in its entirety, with 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 toward completing annual required professional development requirements.

Specific themes include:

• Selection, training and supervision of staff.
  
• Superintendent, CBO, board relations.
• Strategic planning.
• Legislation and advocacy.
• Leadership and relationships.
• Collective bargaining.
• Collaboration and internal controls between business services and human resources departments.
• Communications within school business department.

• Legal provisions and restrictions.
  
• Estimating attendance, enrollments, income and expenditures.
• Budget, calendar planning and development.
• Development of the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).
• Managing school district budgets including site-based and curriculum-driven budgets with an equity lens.
• Fiscal oversight.

• Standard account code structures.
  
• History of school finance.
• Financing alternatives.
• Understanding the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).
  
• Special Education funding, programs and efficiency.
• Purpose of auditing.
• Attendance accounting.
• Associated Student Body (ASB)/Booster group accounting.

• Facilities planning, and financing.
  
• Purchasing and contracts.
• Pupil transportation.
• Food services.
• Technology and information management.
• Risk management.
• Maintenance and operations.

2024-2025 Meeting format

Register with Credit Card, Purchase Order or 3 Month Installment Payment Plan

1. Payment will be due in full with a credit card or
2. A valid purchase order must be received to complete registration. Purchase order numbers alone are not sufficient as payment.
3. Under extenuating circumstances, you can set up a 3 month installment payment plan and pay in three consecutive monthly installments using a credit card

Registration Closed

School Business - Riverside
Virtual/Online format
Director - Candace Reines

• September 6-7, 2024
• September 20-21, 2024
• October 4-5, 2024
• October 18-19, 2024
• November 1-2, 2024
• December 13-14, 2024
• January 24-25, 2025
• February 7-8, 2025
• Feb. 28 - March 1, 2025
• March 14-15, 2025

Intended Audience
Assistant Superintendents and Directors of Special Education or Student Services; program coordinators, intervention specialists; county office, charter, 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 administrators at all levels and areas of responsibility related to special education programs and services. Participants are provided essential information and resources through a consistent academy focus through the lenses of equity, leadership, communication, prevention and intervention, partner involvement, and fiscal responsibility. The academy integrates:

• principles of organization and cultural environment,
  
• dynamics of strategic issues management,
• ethical and reflective leadership,
• analysis of public policy, and
• 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 site and district level.

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.

• 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.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution.
• Mediation and Due Process hearings.
• Disciplinary protections for students with disablilities
• Curriculum, instruction and California State Standards for special education students.
• State and Federal laws affecting special education.
• Disproportionality and Significant Disproportionality.
• Emerging multilingual and multicultural learners.
• Advocacy for students with disabilities.
• Current issues facing special education, including legal hot topics.
• Funding and budget development.
• Human resources, credentialing and staffing, and evaluation of special education programs.
• Educational reform inclusive of special education.
• Expansion of early learning programs.
• State and Federal accountability and evaluation.
• Special education transitions.

2024-2025 Meeting Formats

Register with Credit Card, Purchase Order or 3 Month Installment Plan

1. Payment will be due in full with a credit card or
2. A valid purchase order must be received to complete registration. Purchase order numbers alone are not sufficient as payment.
3. Under extenuating circumstances, you can set up a 3 month installment payment plan and pay in three consecutive monthly installments using a credit card

Registration Closed

Special Education - Arcadia
Virtual format
Directors - Jennifer Yales & Katherine Mahoney

Dates:

• September 6-7, 2024
• October 4-5, 2024
• November 1-2, 2024
• December 6-7, 2024
• January 24-25, 2025
• February 21-22, 2025
• March 21-22, 2025

Special Education - Redwood City
Virtual format
Directors - Mary Yung & Shelly Ota

Dates:

• September 20-21, 2024
  
• October 18-19, 2024
  
• November 22-23, 2024
• December 13-14, 2024
  
• January 24-25, 2025
  
• February 21-22, 2025
• March 21-22, 2025

Special Education - Riverside
Virtual format
Director - Barbara Sorter

Dates:

• September 20-21, 2024
• October 11-12, 2024
• December 6-7, 2024
• January 3-4, 2025
• February 21-22, 2025
• March 7-8, 2025
• April 4-5, 2025

Superintendents

Superintendents Academy

Registration Closed