Ready to move ahead in your career? ACSA’s Academies program will give you the fuel to lift off into any leadership position you desire.

Registration has opened for the 2023-24 ACSA Academies. Each academy provides a solid foundation of training in the application of leadership and management fundamentals. Participants experience 70 to 100 hours of high-quality instruction by expert Academy Directors and presenters during seven to 10 weekends throughout the school year.

This year will feature 28 cohorts in 10 leadership specializations:

So what else is new with this year’s Academies program? Keep reading to find out.

This year, Academies will be offered in three formats: Virtual/online, hybrid and in-person.

Most academy cohorts will continue to be held online due to the positive feedback received by participants.

“We heard loud and clear during the pandemic that people were very appreciative of being able to take an academy online,” said ACSA Educational Services Executive Mary Gomes.

Gomes said the virtual format not only eliminates the need to travel, but also offers school leaders an opportunity to participate in Academies with less overlap with their work schedules. Most Academies are held on Friday evenings and Saturdays, allowing participants to fulfill their roles during the week and focus on developing their skills on the weekends.

In addition, Co-administrators Academy will continue to be offered online in an Extended Academy Weekend format, with Thursday evening and Saturday sessions. This allows for co-administrators to be available for school duties on Friday nights.

Gomes said that as the Academies program evolves, it will offer in-person cohorts where there’s high demand and directors available. This year, the only Academy that will be held in person is the Classified Educational Leaders Academy, which will be offered exclusively for Fresno USD administrators.

For the first time in seven years, the Classified Educational Leaders Academy is back. Reinstated at the request of Fresno USD, this academy was originally developed 20 years ago but went on hiatus in 2016 due to declining demand.

The CEL Academy will provide an ongoing professional learning opportunity for these crucial school leaders.

“Classified leaders are such a diverse group,” Gomes said. “This academy addresses leadership across all domains for CEL leaders.”

This in-person academy will be held exclusively for Fresno USD leaders and is being led by Directors Malati Gopal and Annarita Howell. Gomes said that while this is a private Academy, there may be opportunities to offer this academy in more ways next year.

If you’ve ever tried to snag a seat in an academy cohort, only to find it’s unavailable, then you know about the high demand for ACSA Academies. Cohorts are limited to only 30 registrants, so signing up early is encouraged.

Start reviewing your Academies Catalog now and register for the cohort you want right away. Academy cohorts will begin convening in late August, with remaining cohorts starting in September and early October.

In just one weekend each month throughout the school year, Academies participants can gain the necessary skills to advance in their careers.

This program is highly respected statewide as the premier professional development for school administrators. The Academies also attend to the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders and the standards for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing’s Professional Clear Administrative Services Credential program.

Jump start your career with ACSA Professional Learning.