Education Leaders Gather at UCLA to Advance Equity through California 21st Century Learning Academy

Educators from across California will meet this week at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center to develop plans for addressing and advancing equity with The 21st Century California School Leadership Academy (21CSLA).

Beginning Thursday, March 3, the gathering will engage about 50 educational leaders in a two-day retreat to learn about and collaborate on “improving how we advance equity by listening to the voices of California’s leaders, historically marginalized students, and families.” 

“Our hope is that leaders will deepen their perspectives, strengthen their practices, and walk away with an even greater resolve to reimagine California’s schools in the wake of the pandemic,” said 21CSLA State Center Director Rebecca Cheung. “Our work to ensure that the most vulnerable students and families are prioritized is nothing short of urgent.” 

Christina Christie, Wasserman Dean of the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies will make opening remarks for the gathering. UCLA Education Professor Tyrone Howard will serve as the keynote speaker, engaging participants in a discussion about the equity concerns of underserved students and families in California. 

“We need to dedicate ourselves to opening the doors of educational opportunity for all children,” Howard says. “It is the key to the 21st century.”

The California 21st Century School Leadership Academy (21CSLA) is dedicated to the professional learning and support of California’s educational leaders—teachers and school site and district leaders— to create more equitable learning environments that ultimately improve success for underserved students. The initiative works to provide high-quality, equity-centered professional learning for education leaders throughout California that receive Title II funds. 

The California School Leadership Academy was originally established by Senate Bill 813 in 1983 and administered by the California Department of Education. The California State Senate reauthorized the 21stCentury school Leadership Academy in 2019. The 21CSLA State Center is headquartered at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education, and is operated in partnership withthe UCLA School of Education and Information Studiesthrough the leadership and support of theUCLA Principal Leadership InstituteandUCLA Center X. The initiative also engages the California Subject Matter Project and seve