Attendee FAQs

Q: Who is CSDC?

A: The Charter Schools Development Center (CSDC) helped write California’s first charter school laws in 1992 and has been active ever since. In addition to being a critical voice, ally, and advocate at the Capitol, CSDC has defined high-quality charter school leader training for thirty years. CSDC is proud to offer a menu of training opportunities which include but are not limited to the CSDC Conference. We also annually host the Leadership Intensive (LI), Charter Business Officer (CBO) Training Program, Online Governance Academy, and the HR Academy. Learn more about CSDC on our website, www.chartercenter.org.

Q: Where and when will the conference take place?

A: The 2024 CSDC Conference will be held at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Sacramento, CA. (Access through West Entry at 13th and K Streets, Sacramento, CA 95814).

Please view the Hotels & Travel page and Schedule for additional location information.

Q: What is the purpose of the CSDC Conference?

A: The CSDC Conference provides comprehensive training, resources, and analysis of the current, major fiscal, policy, and regulatory trends affecting California charter schools and is intended for charter leaders in all stages of their careers. The CSDC Conference also features the sector’s biggest keynote: CSDC’s Leadership Update Presentation, an extensive, multi-part annual keynote led by CSDC Founder and Executive Director, Eric Premack.

Q: Who should attend the conference?

A: The conference is especially designed for charter school executive-level leaders including executive directors, CEOs, business and operational leaders and staff, emerging leaders within charter organizations, board members, administrators, political leaders, and business partners. The conference is also valued and attended by instructional staff and other school leaders looking to increase their knowledge.

Q: What’s included in my registration?

A: View the Why Attend? page to see what’s included.

Q: What is the conference schedule and how do I book a hotel?

A: View the Schedule and Hotels and Travel pages to plan your time at the conference.

Q: What’s your cancellation policy?

A: The cancellation policy can be found on the conference Policies page.

Q: Will session recordings be made available?

A: No, CSDC does not plan to record each session, so recordings will not be available during/after the event.

Q: What does “ticketed” mean in regards to conference programming?

A: “Ticketed” sessions include full-day summits and 3-hour workshops and require a ticket for entry. They are generally included in the cost of registration (i.e., at no additional expense); however, they are subject to strict capacities and, as a result, must be reserved in advance of the conference. Once a ticket has been reserved, a registrant will not be able to claim another ticket for a concurrent ticketed session. Please note that you will be asked to present your ticket to gain access to a ticketed session and that admission will not be granted without a ticket.

Q: What is a summit?

A: Summits are ticketed sessions (see more above) offered exclusively all day on Wednesday, November 20 from 9:45AM-4:30PM and are focused on a particular topic or role within a charter organization. Pending availability, summit tickets are included in the cost of full conference registration (or the single-day rate for Wednesday, November 20) on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that you will be asked to present your ticket to gain access to a ticketed session and that admission will not be granted without a ticket.

Q: What is a workshop?

A: Workshops are ticketed sessions (see more above) offered primarily* on Wednesday, November 20 at 9:45AM-12:45PM. Pending availability, workshop tickets are included in the cost of full conference registration (or the single-day rate) on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that once a ticket for a workshop has been reserved, a registrant will not be able to reserve a ticket for any other concurrently scheduled workshops or summits. Please note that you will be asked to present your ticket to gain access to a ticketed session and that admission will not be granted without a ticket.

* Please note the date/time for the workshops below differs from that of the workshops referenced above.

• Charter Teacher Credentialing in 2024-25 is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19 at 1:30-4:30PM
• Compliant, Cost-Effective Special Education Services in NCB/IS Setting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20 at 1:30-4:30PM.

Q: What is a breakout session?

A: Breakout sessions are 75-minutes long and cover myriad topics critical to charter school operations and make up most of the offered content scheduled throughout the event. Breakouts do not require tickets.

Q: What is a Learning Lab?

A: Learning Labs are 45-minute sessions hosted in our exhibit hall and are designed to be full of energy, hands-on engagement, and provide opportunities for attendees to interact with their colleagues during exhibit hall hours on a niche topic.

Q: Is CSDC's Leadership Update Presentation taking place over two days this year?

A: Yes. This year’s Leadership Update Presentation will take place over two days–on Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon–during the General Session.

Q: Can I share the documents offered at this conference with colleagues from schools that are not registered?

A: No. All documents and templates provided to participants at the 2024 CSDC Conference are for the exclusive use of the organizations in attendance. Per the conference policies, sharing of materials is strictly prohibited unless formal permission is granted by the presenter and/or CSDC. To request special use-case permission, please email csdc@chartercenter.org.

Q: Where can I request accommodations and/or ask questions regarding the accessibility of the venue or event in general?

A: CSDC welcomes individuals with all abilities to participate in its programs and events. If you require accommodations or have any questions regarding accessibility, please reach out to us at registration@csdcconference.org.

Please note: We kindly ask that requests for accommodations be made at least 4 weeks prior to the event. This allows us to ensure we can provide necessary services, especially in cases where additional equipment or professional assistance may be needed.

Q: I saw that CSDC offers CEUs. How can I get those?

A: CSDC, in partnership with University of the Pacific/Benerd College, is pleased to provide conference attendees with the opportunity to earn graduate-level credit for attending sessions and completing session evaluations. We recognize that the rigor of all our conference training sessions are made even more meaningful for attendees by ensuring that they qualify for graduate-level professional development semester units of credit. The credits are primarily designed to be used towards career advancement and/or recertification requirements.

Conference participants may register to earn up to 3 graduate-level credits through a practicum option. They will be required to include a certificate of completion to verify participation with CSDC – your check-in receipt and proof of participation in a workshop or summit will suffice. Learn more: https://www.chartercenter.org/ceus.