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2026 Community School EMPOWER Summit

The State Transformation Assistance Center (S-TAC) is excited to invite you to the 2026 California Community Schools EMPOWER Summit.

Hosted annually by the State Transformational Assistance Center (S-TAC), the Community Schools EMPOWER Summit is a dynamic gathering that brings together the educational ecosystem. The S-TAC welcomes all California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) grantees, Regional Transformational Assistance Centers (R-TACs), County Offices of Education (COEs), Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), sites, educators, students, families, and community partners who are committed to reimagining schools as inclusive, thriving centers of learning and well-being.

About the Conference 

Designed to spark creativity and collaboration, the summit offers engaging sessions that highlight how we—collectively—are strengthening community-classroom connections and aligning resources to support the whole child. Through powerful teaching and learning, shared leadership, expanded learning opportunities, and integrated supports for health and wellness, the EMPOWER Summit celebrates bold, forward-thinking approaches grounded in California’s Community Schools Fundamentals. 

Visit the 2026 EMPOWER Summit Website for more information. 

Conference Details 

Date:

September 10-11, 2026

Location:

Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, CA 

Registration Dates: 

Early Bird Registration closes on April 30, 2026 

General Registration closes on July 31, 2026 

Call for Presenters 

Throughout our region, CCSPP grantees are transforming their school communities. We encourage you to submit a proposal to tell the story of your school community. This is a great opportunity to share your expertise! The S-TAC encourages proposals that are forward-looking, interactive, and innovative, showcasing systems thinking and aligning with California’s Community Schools Fundamentals, particularly the Capacity Building Strategies 2.2.

The STAC invites proposals that:

  • Reflect bold ideas and highlight systems thinking in action
  • Center the knowledge, expertise, and voices of youth, families, and community members
  • Are co-designed with your school site team, ideally including students, families, educators, and partners
  • Share tangible strategies, tools, and resources that others can apply
  • Highlight challenges, lessons learned, and successes in the field
  • Prioritize racial justice, including diverse teams and practices that leverage community cultural wealth

Submission Details

Submission Open: 

February 4, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. PST 

Submission Deadline: 

May 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST