Registration for the 2026 SSDA State Conference closes TODAY, Friday, February 20th, at 5:00 PM! |
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We are grateful to our Signature Partners and sponsors whose support makes the 2026 SSDA State Conference possible! |
SSDA's Signature Partners |
Click each logo to learn more about our signature partners! |
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Your Facilities & Energy Management Experts |
| Your Educator Professional Learning Experts |
| Your Trusted Legal Experts for School Districts |
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Learn more about each one of our keynote speakers on our website here. |
While you are at the conference, make sure to stop by and say hello to the many wonderful partners and colleagues joining us! |
Tee Off the 2026 State Conference with TopGolf Fun! |
Registration for TopGolf closes TODAY, Friday, February 20th, at 5 PM! |
Get ready to tee off for the 2026 SSDA Annual State Conference TopGolf Event in Roseville, CA, on Saturday, March 7th! Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just looking for a fun way to network with fellow attendees, this event is the perfect way to kick off the conference.
Please note: You must be registered for the full conference at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento from March 8-10, 2026, to participate in this event. Register for the conference here! 📍 Location: 1700 Freedom Wy, Roseville, CA 95678
💰 $65 registration fee for school districts Event Schedule: ⛳ Golf: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
🍽 Dinner in Sacramento at the Mix (1525 L St, Sacramento, CA 95814): 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
Join us in welcoming our newest Associate Members, who are ready to support you! |
Discover more about each member by clicking their logo. |
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National Forum to Advance Rural Education Rural Innovation Competition |
Small and rural school district in California it is time to participate in the Rural Innovation & Impact Showcase, a new national competition debuting at the 2026 National Forum to Advance Rural Education. This is a unique opportunity to highlight the programs, initiatives, and practices making a real difference in rural schools and communities.
Selected projects will be presented live at the Forum, gain national recognition, and compete for a $5,000 award to support continued impact. The Showcase is open to rural schools, districts, higher education institutions, regional service agencies, nonprofits, and educator- or student-led initiatives. Proposals are due March 27, 2026. |
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Small but Mighty - Manchester’s Big Vision for Students |
When Superintendent Stephanie Herrera started at Manchester Union Elementary three years ago, she noticed both the challenges and the potential of leading one of California’s smallest school districts. With just 28 students, a few teachers, and a rural coastal location, it would have been easy to focus on what the district lacked. But Herrera and her team chose to see it as a chance to reimagine what school could be.
“We’ve changed a lot over the past two and a half years,” Herrera said. She gives credit to her team, saying, “I am proud of our staff and the great work that they’re doing.”
Herrera saw early on that Manchester’s bilingual community was a great starting point for new ideas. About half the students speak Spanish at home and half speak English, so she saw a chance to create a dual-language program that would match the community’s identity and give students more opportunities. As she puts it, “the school and our community are already naturally a great platform for dual language instruction,” and that insight helped shape the district’s teaching approach.
The district started hiring teachers from other countries, including Chile, to give students a wider view of the world. Herrera says this has helped students both academically and culturally, as they are now “exposed to even more international teaching, learning and backgrounds,” which she finds “really fun and exciting to see.” To keep building their team in a rural area where hiring can be tough, the district also works with International Alliance Group to bring in more educators who support their multilingual goals.
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Eureka City Schools Invests in Educators Through Innovative Graduate Partnership |
At Eureka City Schools (ECS), the future of learning begins with investing in the people who make it possible.
This year, twenty-seven ECS educators were awarded scholarships to participate in an innovative, competency-based Master of Education program made possible through a partnership with 2Revolutions and Spalding University. The initiative represents a significant step forward in the district’s long-term commitment to building a learner-centered system.
For Superintendent Gary Storts, the partnership reflects both a professional vision and a personal commitment to the community he has always called home. Having grown up in Eureka and served the region throughout his career, he sees this work as deeply rooted in place and purpose. He explains that the partnership emerged from relationships and conversations with national education leaders who understood the direction ECS was taking. Those discussions led to exploring professional learning opportunities that could help embed competency-based learning across both classrooms and district systems.
“What really drew us in,” Storts shared, “was the opportunity to approach competency-based learning from both sides, supporting classroom practice while also shaping the policies and systems that make it sustainable.” |
Scaling Student Success Hosts Study Tour, SSDA Co-Sponsors |
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In January, Scaling Student Success hosted a study tour, co-sponsored by SSDA, bringing together small, rural, and charter school leaders for an engaging and impactful day. Participants explored the opportunities and challenges of implementing a Graduate Profile, learning how it can serve as a guiding framework for instruction, professional learning, and student growth.
The day included an amazing tour of the Esparto Unified School Campus, where attendees saw firsthand how the district brings its Graduate Profile to life. Leaders from Winters JUSD, Esparto USD, Mountain Empire USD, and Compass Charter School shared how they developed their graduate or learner profiles, involving students, staff, families, and community members in defining the skills and competencies students should have by graduation. From aligning classroom instruction to setting district priorities, each school demonstrated innovative strategies for preparing students for college, career, and life.
Attendees left with practical ideas and inspiration to bring back to their own districts, seeing how small and rural schools can create meaningful, student-centered learning experiences that prepare graduates for success beyond school. |
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While five sessions have already taken place, registration is still open for the final session! These sessions are free for SSDA members, and we encourage superintendents and board members to participate.
Each session includes a 30-minute presentation by Randy Erickson of McDougal, Boehmer, Foley, Lyon, Mitchell & Erickson, giving attendees the opportunity to earn their FPPC Ethics Compliance Certificate.
The next session is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14th, from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM, beginning with a presentation from Brett McFadden and Barrett Snider on navigating your district's finances, followed by Randy Erickson’s FPPC ethics session. Watch the recordings from the past sessions here.
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SSDA has launched an upgraded, member-centered Board Policy Program designed specifically for small and rural California school districts. This service goes beyond sharing templates. SSDA will customize and maintain board policies for our small school districts.
If you would like to join the SSDA Board Policy Program list, please register here. Enrollment is handled one at a time, in the order in which requests are received. You can view an example of the board policies here. Learn more with the PowerPoint presentation here.
Contacts for the Board Policy Program:
Karen Mix, Karen@ssda.org & Laissa Caraveo, Laissa@ssda.org
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Secure Prop 2 funding quickly and efficiently using Edapt’s AI-powered tool, now available through SSDA. This innovative solution makes drafting a Five-Year Facilities Master Plan fast, affordable, and simple.
Here's how it works: |
- Spend just 30–60 minutes with an AI agent to review your facilities needs and answer site-specific questions.
- Complete a follow-up interview to ensure your plan is accurate, up-to-date, and fully OPSC compliant.
- Receive your first draft plan, fully editable and tailored to your district.
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Learn more by watching the video below! |
STEAM Resources for SSDA Members |
Below are excellent STEAM resources designed to support small and rural school districts throughout California. |
A centerpiece of this year’s Spring CUE experience is the highly anticipated STEAM Symposium, a dedicated space where theory meets practice. Alongside 300+ traditional breakout sessions, the STEAM Symposium zone offers attendees hands-on, interactive activities throughout each day, providing a "living lab" environment for educators to test new technologies and creative methodologies for future-focused schools.
Whether you're in the classroom or leading systems change, the STEAM Symposium featured at Spring CUE 2026 is where ideas come to life. Registration is currently open for educators looking to be at the forefront of instructional design and technological integration.
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Teachers, families, care providers, librarians, community partners, and everyone who interacts with children from birth to third grade, PLEASE JOIN FOR A FREE VIRTUAL EVENT. Attendance certificates will be available for those attending the event.
This event is sponsored by Count Play Explore, an early math, science, and computer science initiative of the State of California led by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. |
In-Person Professional Learning Series Throughout California |
Join us for an interactive, engaging, and collaborative event designed to: - Strengthen your approach to math, science, and computer science. - Connect learning with CA Math Standards and CA Foundations. - Empower educators and families with joyful, hands-on strategies.
Walk away with practical strategies, classroom-ready activities, and a renewed passion for teaching math and science |
State Revenues Up Over $6 Billion, so far… |
Recent revenue data is coming in stronger than the Governor’s January forecast, but the broader fiscal picture remains volatile. Preliminary state tax data shows income tax collections running about $6.2 billion (6%) above the administration’s forecast through January, driven largely by high-income and corporate payments. Some analysts now believe total 2026 collections could exceed the forecast by “tens of billions,” though this remains preliminary and subject to revision.
On the surface, that sounds like good news for education funding. But California’s budget system is complicated. When revenues come in higher, a large portion is automatically directed into required spending areas, especially under Proposition 98 and required reserve deposits. That means stronger revenues do not necessarily translate into new programs or flexible funding for schools.
At the same time, state leaders remain cautious. Even with stronger short-term revenue, California is still expected to face ongoing structural budget challenges in future years. The state’s revenue system depends heavily on high earners, capital gains, and the tech sector, all of which can rise quickly but also fall quickly. If revenue drops while spending commitments remain high, the state could face large deficits.
For schools, the takeaway is straightforward. Near-term funding required under constitutional formulas is likely to remain stable or possibly improve slightly if revenue stays strong. However, districts should not assume long-term program expansions or major new investments will follow. State leaders are likely to stay cautious, and funding outside of required formulas may remain tight and unpredictable.
We’ll continue to monitor state revenues through April, which will set the stage for Governor’ Newsom’s May Revision (around May 15). |
Are you looking for your next opportunity in education or trying to find the perfect candidate for your small school district?
The SSDA Job Board is your go-to hub for job postings across California’s small and rural school districts!
Explore job openings or post a position here: https://www.ssda.org/page/jobs Superintendent - Wheatland School District
Application Deadline: Friday, March 13, 2026, at 5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time Salary Range: $200,000 - $250,000 Annually. Competitive and Negotiable plus excellent health, dental, vision, life, and retirement benefits.
Application Link: https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/2184830
The Wheatland School District is seeking an inspired, student-centered leader to serve as its next Superintendent. With roots dating back to 1871 and a deeply connected community identity, Wheatland offers an exceptional opportunity to guide a district that prioritizes strong relationships, long-term stability, and forward-thinking educational practices.
Nestled in Northern California’s Central Valley along State Route 65 in Yuba County, Wheatland is known for its welcoming small-town atmosphere and rich rural heritage. The community is located just one mile north of the Bear River and the Sutter-Placer-Yuba county boundary, 40 miles north of Sacramento, and only 8 miles from Beale Air Force Base. Learn more about the position here.
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