Looking to step into a new leadership role? Look no further than ACSA Academies.

More than 700 school leaders participate in ACSA Academies each year, helping them build the skills needed in their current job while preparing them to take advantage of career advancement opportunities.

The program is now officially open for registration. Academies fill up fast — so be sure to register early. ACSA members will receive the 2026-27 ACSA Academy Catalog in the mail, but the catalog is also available online at acsa.org/academies.

This year’s Academy program will feature 23 cohorts in the following nine leadership specializations:

What’s new this year? This is the first Academies launch for new Director of Leadership Academies Bill Sanderson. Sanderson joined ACSA last summer following the retirement of longtime Academies executive Mary Gomes.

Since then, Sanderson has been traveling throughout the state to meet with Academies directors during progress milestone meetings that monitor the quality and effectiveness of each academy.

“We’re making some natural shifts to meet the needs of our members,” Sanderson said. “We are continuously listening in order to better understand how to help members reach their career goals.”

Some of those changes are:

New Early Education Leaders Academy — As California has expanded school to include transitional kindergarten, ACSA has recognized the need to support leaders in creating quality early education programs. The new Early Education Leaders Academy will support district and site leaders, preschool and early learning coordinators, and anyone aspiring to lead these programs.

New focus for equity academy — The Equity Administrators Academy has changed its name to Equity-Centered Leadership and has shifted its focus to equity as a core principle of the work done by all leaders in public education. Key topics include building cultural proficiency, the use of data as an equity engine, leading and designing for equity in complex systems, strategic planning, and family engagement. “Not everyone has DEI in their title,” Sanderson said. “This change reflects that all leaders in every job specialty can benefit from the principles taught in this academy.”

New academy for aspiring women superintendents — Offered in partnership with AASA, The School Superintendents Association, the new ACSA-AASA Aspiring Superintendents Academy® for Women Leaders is intentionally designed to complement other ACSA Academies, offering a deeper, more immersive leadership experience for women at a critical point in their leadership journey.

When do Academies meet? Cohorts meet during seven to 10 weekends throughout the school year, with first meetings occurring in mid-September through early October, depending on the academy.

Academies are offered primarily in a virtual format, reducing travel costs and time burdens, and allowing more flexibility for working professionals to complete their studies. Virtual meetings are held Friday evenings and all day Saturdays. Participants are encouraged to join any virtual cohort that fits their schedule, regardless of the cohort city name.

Hybrid options are available for Personnel Administrators, Pupil Services and Superintendents, which meet virtually on Friday evenings and in-person on Saturdays.

“Some folks really like the opportunity to learn together in the same space, while virtual options allow for people in remote areas to have access to the same professional development,” Sanderson said. “We try to offer a range of options to suit all learning styles and geographic locations.”

Why should I take an Academy? Academies give leaders the confidence to step into new leadership roles and the skills to be effective at creating positive changes within their schools and departments. They learn from expert practitioners who offer real-world insights and form strong relationships with like-minded administrators over the course of their meetings during the year.

“ACSA Academies are a cornerstone of our professional development offerings,” Sanderson said. “We welcome members’ ideas and are always looking for ways to better support their leadership growth.”