Getting Down to Facts III Central Valley Convening

We are pleased to invite you to the Getting Down to Facts III Central Valley Convening, a gathering of educators, school board members, families, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders committed to strengthening educational opportunities for students across California's Central Valley.

Hosted by Stanford University's SCALE Initiative in partnership with the University of California, Merced, the Central Valley Multilingual Consortium, Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) and Californians Together this regional convening will bring together leaders from across education to explore what the latest findings from Getting Down to Facts III mean for Central Valley schools and communities.

The morning will feature a keynote address from Professor Francesca López (University of Wisconsin–Madison), one of the nation's leading scholars on multilingual learners and educational equity. Professor López will present "The ABCs of California Education and Multilingual Learners," providing an accessible overview of the latest statewide research and what it means for the students and families who call the Central Valley home.

Participants will also hear directly from leading researchers and practitioners examining some of the most pressing issues facing California schools, including:

Building a Stronger Education Workforce

A Discussion of new research on educator preparation, workforce development, and strengthening the capacity of schools to serve multilingual learners and students with diverse needs.

• Francesca López | Jim and Georgia Thompson Distinguished Professor, Department of Educational Policy and Leadership Analysis, University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Elizabeth Bailey Kozleski | Research Professor, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University
• Beth Meloy | President, Meloy Child and Family Policy Solutions, and Founding Member, Child and Family Advisory Collaborative

District Accountability and Support Systems

An exploration of how California can strengthen district improvement efforts, accountability, and local support systems to better serve students.

• Lupita Cortez Alcalá | Executive Director, Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE)
• Jason Willis | Clinical Professor of Public Policy, McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific
• Laura E. Hernández | Senior Researcher II, Learning Policy Institute (LPI)
• Matt J. Navo | Executive Director, California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE)

The convening will also include facilitated community conversations where participants will work alongside educators, families, and community organizations to connect statewide research to local priorities and identify actionable strategies for improving educational outcomes throughout the Central Valley.

Together, we will explore how evidence can inform policy, strengthen local partnerships, and support the next generation of educational leaders across the region.

We hope you'll join us for this important opportunity to engage with California's leading education researchers and regional leaders as we work together to strengthen educational opportunity for students across the Central Valley.

Free and open to the public. Register today!

For more information, contact [email protected]

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