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 ACSA-CSBA Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip.

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.