When education leaders take the time to show up, share their stories and speak with clarity and purpose, they help shape policies that directly affect students’ lives. This truth was on full display when school board members and superintendents from across California gathered in Washington, D.C. from April 12-15 for the 2026 CSBA-ACSA Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip.
CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy emphasized that the partnership between CSBA and Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) at Coast2Coast amplifies the impact of every participant in a way that reverberates from the nation’s capital to their schools and communities back home in California.
“Your presence here strengthens our collective voice and provides us with an opportunity to weigh in on some of the most important education issues impacting our schools,” Billy said.
A bipartisan path forward for students
Attendees arrived in D.C. united by a shared goal: to help federal policymakers understand the realities facing California schools and make sure California’s representatives advocate for solutions that improve school conditions and student outcomes. Participants approached the event as an extension of their daily work supporting students, educators and families, but also as an opportunity to build collective power that overcomes political divides.
One of the clearest takeaways from this year’s Coast2Coast was that education remains a rare area where bipartisan progress is possible. While differences in approach persist, there is meaningful common ground around key priorities — supporting students, strengthening the educator workforce, expanding opportunity and ensuring safe, effective learning environments. By focusing on shared goals and grounding advocacy in both data and lived experience, California’s education leaders demonstrated how collaboration across perspectives can lead to stronger outcomes for students.
Key issues
Workforce and career technical education (CTE): CTE emerged as a clear example of bipartisan alignment, with federal policymakers consistently supporting programs that connect education to workforce needs. High-quality CTE programs not only build technical skills but also improve graduation rates and long-term outcomes for students.
Children’s online safety and privacy: Leaders examined evolving federal proposals such as the Kids Online Safety Act and updates to children’s data privacy laws, highlighting the growing expectation that schools and their partners ensure safe, transparent digital environments for students.
Artificial intelligence (AI) in education: AI was a central topic, reflecting its rapid integration into classrooms. Federal actions aimed at creating a national AI policy framework could significantly shape how schools adopt and regulate these tools, raising important questions about innovation, equity and student data protections.
Federal appropriations: The core message for federal appropriations was that federal mandates must be federally funded, especially in special education. Federal law requires school districts to provide services to students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). When IDEA was enacted, Congress committed to funding up to 40 percent of the average per-pupil cost for special education. That commitment has never been met and federal funds now account for less than 10 percent of California’s special education expenditures, prompting local educational agencies (LEAs) to redirect funds to provide students with critical and federally mandated services.
Together, these issues formed the foundation of Coast2Coast advocacy — ensuring that participants were prepared to speak knowledgeably and persuasively about the real-world impact of federal policy decisions.
Demystifying a complex federal landscape
To advocate effectively, participants first needed a clear view of the federal landscape, which Coast2Coast provided a clear view of the federal landscape through insider perspective on the intersection of education, policy, politics and law.
Experts, including Professor David Fontana of George Washington University Law School, offered insight into the growing concentration of power in the executive branch, a long-term trend across both political parties that influences how education policy is developed and implemented. Fontana noted that, contrary to the idea that the nation’s founders viewed all three branches of government equally, they actually saw the legislative branch as primary. He noted that the current Congress has largely abdicated its leadership rule, creating a power vacuum filled by the executive and judicial branches, a development with significant implications for public education and society at-large.
Policy leaders and top federal education lobbyists Reg Leichty and Peter Oppenheim offered an analysis of Congressional action on education, from a Democratic and Republican standpoint, respectively. Both speakers emphasized the challenges of advancing major legislation through a largely impotent federal Legislature and the importance of identifying areas of agreement, such as reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools Act, which was successfully advocated for at previous Coast2Coast events.
Federal funding
Oppenheim explained how Congress determines education funding priorities. The process, rooted in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, involves multiple stages from the president’s budget proposal to appropriations bills that ultimately determine funding levels for key programs. Participants explored how federal funding decisions directly affect services for students with disabilities, low-income students and other high-need populations, knowing that even as federal dollars represent a smaller share of overall education funding, they remain essential for services to high-need students, school stability and LEA compliance with federal mandates.
While some proposals in this year’s federal budget included significant restructuring or elimination of programs, others maintained or increased funding in critical areas such as IDEA, reinforcing the importance of continued advocacy to protect and strengthen critical investments for public schools.
Grounding advocacy in public sentiment
A deep dive into national voter attitudes on education provided one of the highlights of the Coast2Coast program and offered important context for how messages resonate beyond Capitol Hill. Research presented by Lake Research Partners and Chesapeake Beach Consulting revealed a complex picture:
- Only about one in four Americans are satisfied with the direction of the country, reflecting a broader environment of dissatisfaction and uncertainty
- Six in 10 voters are dissatisfied with the quality of K–12 education nationally
- At the same time, there is overwhelming bipartisan agreement on key education priorities, including funding public schools, supporting teachers and expanding CTE. Importantly, voters across the political spectrum emphatically support increased federal investment in education, particularly in areas like workforce development and career pathways that align directly with Coast2Coast priorities
The research also highlighted the real-life pressures facing families, with 70 percent of parents reporting they are living paycheck to paycheck, a reality that reinforces the critical role schools play in supporting student well-being and opportunity.
From preparation to Capitol Hill
After days of learning and collaboration, participants put their preparation into action. Working in teams, attendees refined their messaging, shared local stories and aligned priorities before heading to Capitol Hill. There, they met with approximately 50 members of Congress and their staff while engaging leaders from both parties, including Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff and Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Mark DeSaulnier, Darrell Issa, Mike Levin, Ted Lieu, Zoe Lofgren, Maxine Waters and Young Kim among others.
These conversations reflected the core purpose of Coast2Coast: ensuring that federal decision-makers understand the significant challenges and opportunities facing schools and the real solutions that can improve student outcomes.
