Click here to view the photo gallery from the 2024 trip.
Monday, April 28, to Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Unleash your advocacy potential this spring in Washington, D.C.
The California School Boards Association (CSBA) and the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) invite you to the fourth annual Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip in Washington, D.C., a transformative three-day event that empowers California's education leaders to elevate the issues impacting the state's nearly 6 million K-12 students on the national stage. This prestigious gathering brings together district and county board members, superintendents, and other cabinet-level officials from across the Golden State, providing an unparalleled opportunity to engage directly with policymakers and influencers in our nation's capital. Over the course of the event, attendees will dive deep into the latest federal education policy developments, gaining invaluable "insider" insights from seasoned experts.
The first two days will be dedicated to educational sessions, equipping participants with the knowledge and strategies needed to effectively advocate for their districts. Attendees will have the chance to network with prominent D.C. figures, as well as engage in briefings with Capitol Hill decision-makers and influencers. This comprehensive event lays the groundwork for the trip's culminating experience: face-to-face meetings with California's congressional representatives.
The Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip is a testament to the unwavering commitment of CSBA and ACSA to amplifying the perspectives of California's education community. By empowering school board members, superintendents and other key stakeholders to engage directly with policymakers, this event serves as a powerful platform for advocating on behalf of the state's almost 6 million TK-12 learners.
Don't miss this transformative opportunity to elevate your voice and make a lasting impact. Join your fellow school governance leaders at the Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip and be the catalyst for the change your students deserve. Register today and let your voice be heard on Capitol Hill!
Registration capacity policy
Due to space constraints, congressional offices limit the number of constituents who can attend an in-person meeting at any one time. To ensure equitable representation from the various local educational agencies (LEAs) across California, we must cap the number of trustees or staffers (further defined below) from a single LEA that can attend the in-person congressional meetings during the Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip.
Specifically, in congressional districts that include more than one LEA, each LEA is limited to a maximum of three representatives for the congressional meetings on Capitol Hill. LEAs are welcome to register as many approved participants as they would like for the overall Coast2Coast event. However, if an LEA registers more than three people, they will need to select three members from their delegation to represent the school district or county at the congressional meetings. Final counts for the number of attendees in each meeting will be determined based on the number of LEAs attending for that congressional district and how much space is available at the congressional office.
This policy allows us to provide all California LEAs the opportunity to have their voices heard directly with their congressional representatives, while respecting the capacity constraints of their offices. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in adhering to this policy.
Approved participants include school board members, superintendents, deputy superintendents, directors, and cabinet-level positions only (no executive assistants).
Location
Capital Hilton
1001 16th Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20036, US
Phone: (202) 393-1000
Program
Monday, April 28 – Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Note, the optional pre-conference activity and President’s Welcome Reception will be held on Sunday, April 27.
View Tentative Agenda
Registration fees
Early: $799 from Oct. 8, 2024 – Feb. 27, 2025
Regular: $949 from Feb. 28, 2025 – April 3, 2025
Late: $1,199 from Apr. 4, 2025 until sold out
There is a spouse/partner rate of $199. The spouse/partner registration fee includes a spouse/partner’s invitation to the President’s Welcome Reception, breakfast and break offerings throughout the conference, as well as admittance to the Tuesday evening reception at the U.S. Capitol Building. This does not include access to the program in the general session room, any breakout sessions or ability to attend any Congressional Hill meetings.
A spouse/partner is defined as a significant other who is not affiliated with or employed by a California school district or county office of education (including board members, administrators, teachers or staff). Coworkers or associates are not eligible to use the spouse registration category. If this registration category is used by someone other than a spouse, the registrant will be charged a full conference registration rate for that person.
Optional pre-conference activity
The Indigenous D.C. Tour is available for purchase immediately preceding the Federal Advocacy Trip on Sunday, April 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You may purchase a ticket during the registration process.
Pre-Conference Activity: $120
Hotel information
Hotel accommodation can now be booked online through a dedicated website. The single/double rate is $309, plus taxes and fees. Please make your reservation as soon as possible. Our conference housing block of rooms has a Saturday, April 5, 2025, reservation cutoff date. After the cutoff date, rooms may be given on a space-available basis, and the special group discount may not be available. The hotel requires a valid credit card to guarantee the reservation at the time of booking.
Please click here to make your hotel reservations.
Travel information
The nearest airport to the Capital Hilton is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Coast2Coast staff strongly discourage attendees from booking a flight back to California earlier than 6:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Congressional District meetings may be scheduled up until 4:00 p.m. ET on April 30, and therefore we do not want our registrants to miss an opportunity to meet with their representatives should their meetings get scheduled on Wednesday afternoon.
Sponsorship opportunities
Join us as a sponsor and gain unparalleled visibility among key education leaders and decision-makers. Our sponsorship packages offer a unique opportunity to showcase your brand, connect with influential professionals, and support initiatives that shape the future of education. Don’t miss the chance to elevate your presence and make a lasting impact in D.C.
Please click here to view the 2025 Sponsorship Guide.
Notices
Questions
Whether you're looking for details about registration, event logistics, or participation guidelines, you’ll find quick and clear answers to the most common inquiries. Check out our FAQ to ensure you're fully prepared and get the most out of your experience. If further assistance is needed, please contact coast2coast@csba.org.
Testimonials:
Sabrena Rodriguez | Board President | Ventura Unified School District; Board of Directors | CSBA
"Coast2Coast is a nice extension to the advocacy work that I do in the State of California for our schools and students. It's an opportunity to meet with legislators that I see back home in our district, but also to see them on their home turf advocating for issues that are important for public education. Attending Coast2Coast is a fantastic next step for someone who is already participating in advocacy for legislative action and understands what it looks and feels like to advocate. It's a great way to expand your tool kit and take advocacy to the national level."
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Amy Yamamoto Callahan | Trustee | Ventura Unified School District
"Out of all the events I attend, Coast2Coast is the most applicable and inspiring. It has been really transformational for me as a trustee, and I highly recommend attending if given the opportunity. The ability to network and build a unified team within CSBA and with other follow trustees and board members is worth it alone."
Ron Williams | Former Superintendent | Victor Valley Union High School District; Past-President | ACSA
"This event provided me the opportunity to meet first-hand with some of our California congressional representatives, White House officials and federal representatives to convey many of the challenges of our students in California. It resulted with the opportunities to listen and hear their views, which aligned with ours. The collaboration between CSBA and ACSA played an intricate role in this transformation event."