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The California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) set an all-time attendance record March 7-10, drawing more than 3,000 charter school leaders, teachers, parents and suppliers to its 18th annual Charter Schools Conference in San Diego.

Optimism was evident throughout the conference, which used “The Future of California Public Education” as its theme. The California charter school numbers are certainly encouraging. This fall, 115 new charter schools opened in the state, and charter enrollment grew by nearly 100,000 students the last two years. Currently, 912 charter schools in California serve more than 365,000 students.

“The pipeline for next year, in spite of all the hardships that we face, is as robust as ever, if not more so," said Jed Wallace, CCSA president and CEO, during his keynote address on the state of charter schools in California.

The conference offered a full slate of educational sessions on issues such as facilities, funding inequity, legislation, accountability and special education, while the expo floor also offered interactive exhibits ranging from green technology to governance.

The CCSA also recognized several education leaders who have made an impact on the charter school movement in California, including Richard Riordan, former California secretary of education, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Two charter schools were recipients of the association’s School of the Year award, while individual honors included charter school leader, teacher, volunteer and authorizer.

Please access our slide gallery for CCSA conference highlights, including the award winners, a dazzling student dance performance and a panel discussion on the impact of the film, Waiting for Superman.