That’s a wrap! Recap of the Birth to 12th Grade Water Cooler Conference.

Sacramento kicked off October buzzing with excitement as over 275 early care and education (ECE) and K-12 stakeholders from across California united for the debut of the Birth to 12th Grade Water Cooler Conference, a two-day conference to build a collective educational equity agenda. Birth to twelfth grade alignment is the next essential statewide education policy in closing California’s achievement gap, allowing for comprehensive investments and supports across both the early care and education and K-12 education systems. Together, we vetted ideas for policy and practice to build a shared equity agenda that supports California’s children and families, grounded in community voice and uplifting a racial equity lens.

Advancement Project California thanks all attendees, speakers and panelists for joining us. We look forward to seeing you next year! Read on for a few highlights and photos.

DAY ONE

Realizing Racial Equity in California’s Birth to Twelfth Grade Education Systems

Creating Welcoming and Safe Schools in California

Conversation with Tony Thurmond: Vision, Priorities, and Challenges: A Dialogue with the Candidates for California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction

A Shared Vision for California’s Early Care and Education System

Keynote: The Honorable Delaine Eastin

Getting Down to Facts II and the Role of Community Voices

Conversation with Marshall Tuck: Vision, Priorities, and Challenges: A Dialogue with the Candidates for California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction

DAY TWO

Building on the Cultural and Linguistic Gifts of California’s Diverse Students

Counting All Kids! Educational Implications of the 2020 Census

Getting to Full and Fair Funding