By the California State PTA Education Commission
The Education Commission’s convention mantra for Fresno is “Empowered by Education.” Just as students are empowered by their education, parents and caregivers are empowered when they are better educated about California’s educational system. We will present several timely, informative workshops at Convention on topics including: AI, literacy, community schools, school boards, testing, postgraduate options, and education data. Please join us in these empowering workshops, where we make the complex education system more understandable to help you become a better advocate for your school community when you head home!
- Community Schools’ Positive Impact on Student Outcomes: Efrain Mercado, Director of California Policy at the Learning Policy Institute, will share how California’s Community Schools Partnership Program is transforming student outcomes and strengthening school communities. We will discuss how this statewide investment is helping boost test scores, reduce chronic absence, and lower suspension rates.
- The Power of Understanding Your School Board: Briana Mullen, Founder and Executive Director of the Education Justice Academy, will explain why school boards are one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—pillars of our democracy. This workshop explores how school boards shape and improve education systems, influencing everything from classroom conditions to long-term district priorities.
- Essential Guide to Education Information: Discover the best websites for exploring data on school districts and individual campuses, then watch and participate in live demonstrations so you can confidently use these tools on your own to be a more informed parent and caregiver.
- Strengthening Reading Skills with Targeted Instruction: James Brannon, licensed educational psychologist, will offer a practical look at how a school’s reading intervention system can directly influence student success and long term outcomes. Parents will learn what effective intervention looks like, how to recognize when a system is working well, and what questions to ask when concerns arise.
- AI Use For Student Success: Ron Ippolito, middle school educator, and James McConihe, author and tech industry veteran, will demystify what AI really looks like in today’s classrooms. This workshop offers a clear, accessible overview of how this rapidly changing technology is being used and how educators are guiding students to use it responsibly.
- Pathways to Success: Exploring Community Colleges & Careers: Lori Swain, representing Fresno City College, will offer information about attending community college after high school graduation. This workshop will help families understand the wide range of successful postsecondary options available in California, emphasizing balance, well-being, and lifelong learning rather than a one-size-fits-all definition of success.
- What’s on the Test? A Hands-On Parent Workshop: Educational Testing Services will lead this interactive session to explore California’s assessments, including CAASPP and ELPAC. You’ll learn how test items are created, scored, and used to support student learning. You will write and score simplified test questions, experience a short practice test, and discover resources to help your school community understand and use assessment results effectively. You will leave with a practical toolkit and ideas to share with other parents and educators.
- Empowered Pathways: Clear, Practical Steps for Parents and Families Supporting College & Career Readiness: Led by Dr. Darlene V. Willis, Co-founder and Executive Director of Concerned Parents Alliance/College Bound Academy Programs, this panel begins by affirming parents/caregivers as essential partners in their child’s success. Through conversation and real examples, the panel centers on what families need to know to navigate college and career readiness pathways in California, and gives families practical, actionable guidance they can apply immediately into their households.