Getting Down to Facts III Bay Area Convening

We are pleased to invite you to the Getting Down to Facts III Bay Area Convening, a gathering of education leaders committed to strengthening educational opportunities and outcomes for California's students.

Hosted by Stanford University's SCALE Initiative, EdTrust—West, and Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), this convening will bring together educators, policymakers, researchers, advocates, and community leaders from across the Bay Area to explore what the latest findings from Getting Down to Facts III mean for our schools, communities, and the future of public education.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Registration & Breakfast: 8:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
Convening: 9:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: East Bay Community Foundation / 200 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA

The morning will feature leading researchers from across California, including a keynote address from Michal Kurlaender, Acting Dean and Chancellor's Leadership Professor of Education Policy, UC Davis School of Educaiton, and PACE Faculty Director. Dr. Kurlaender will introduce the "ABCs of California Education" and provide an accessible overview of the major findings from Getting Down to Facts III.

Topics, speakers and panelists include:

Logistics and Regional Grounding

• Lange Luntao | Director of External Relations Partnerships and Engagement, EdTrust—West

California Finance

• Jonathon Kaplan | Senior Policy Advisor and Researcher, Learning Policy Institute (LPI)
• Francis Pearman | Assistant Professor, Stanford Graduate School of Education

Early Education and Math

• Austin Land | Researcher and Policy Analyst, UC Berkeley School of Education
• Jacob Jackson, Director of Research Partnerships at the California Education Lab, UC Davis School of Education
• Michal Kurlaender | Acting Dean and Chancellor's Leadership Professor of Education Policy, UC Davis School of Education

Throughout the morning, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in facilitated discussions connecting the research to the unique opportunities and challenges facing Bay Area communities. Together, we will explore how evidence can inform local practice, strengthen partnerships, and shape policies that improve outcomes for children and youth across California.

EVENT VIDEOS

For more information, contact [email protected]. 

Hosted by