Last Chance to Apply to be a Model School, Conference Updates, New Opportunities and More: Fall 2020 Newsletter

2021 CCEA Plus Conference, April 15-18 @ San Diego, CA

We hope this finds you, your team and family safe and healthy this new school year. At CCEA Plus, we remain committed to supporting you in all your efforts in alternative education and staying connected. We are YOUR educational nonprofit, run by and for members like you. We’re excited to share lots of big news, below.


Become a Model School: Open Now!

The Model School program is still on this year. Application dates have been changed slightly. Intent to submit is due by Oct. 15th. Submit an application to become a “Model School” for 2020- 2021, sponsored by the California Department of Education.

Application Timeline:
  • October 15, 2020 — “Intent to Submit” survey due.
  • October 22, 2020 — Applications due.
Learn How to Apply

Application 2020-2021 | Download forms (apply now)


IMPORTANT UPDATE: For the safety of our members and attendees, the 2020 Conference has been postponed to the weekend of April 15 – 18, 2021, at the same location, the Sheraton San Diego and will be combined with the 2021 Conference. In this exciting “double” Conference, we will honor both our 2020 Model Schools and our upcoming 2021 Model Schools at the evening Gala on Friday, April 16th.

All registrations, tickets and tables purchased for the 2020 Conference will be honored and credited automatically for the 2021 dates, with no further action needed. Visit the new Conference page for more details about re-booking hotel reservations, the tentative schedule, and nominations for the upcoming 2021 awards. Read full update

2021 CCEA+ Conference: April 15 – 18 in San Diego

Registration is now open for the 2021 State Conference in San Diego. Enjoy three amazing days of workshops, seminars, student art shows, awards celebrations, and a model school visit.

To celebrate the combination of two years of schools and awards, we’ve booked the historic USS Midway aircraft carrier for a gigantic dinner celebration on the water. Get $40 off right now!*

Register Now

* If purchased before March 17th (online only)


USS Midway event venue, aircraft carrier on the water

USS Midway historic aircraft carrier on the water – CCEA Plus Model School Awards event venue

Model Schools Awards Gala: Friday, April 16th

The dinner will be held aboard the historic USS Midway. Transportation is provided to and from the hotel venue at no extra charge. At the Gala dinner, newly-selected Model Schools from both 2020 and 2021 will be awarded and recognized. Get tickets

Exemplary Programs and Professional Awards Lunch: Saturday, April 17

From 11:45 – 1:45PM @ Harbor Island Ballroom, Sheraton San Diego (the Conference venue). Lunch with keynote speaker Jack O’Connell, including awards for personnel, essays, art, region basket, vendor’s raffle/auction prizes. Both awards from 2020 and 2021 will be featured. Get tickets

Did You Know?

Schools and leaders: the CCEA conference can be subsidized by utilizing Comprehensive School Improvement (CSI) monies delegated to your respective sites. Bring your team to the conference and grow in all areas related to increasing academic achievement and student performance. Talk to our reps for help


CCEA+ 2021 Recognition Opportunities

There are amazing things happening at all our California schools and in alternative education! We need to get the word out and share what we are doing and recognize our dedicated staff and students.

  Nominate a Colleague for an Award

Honor the hard work of your fellow educators, admin and support staff. Make a nomination

  Exemplary Programs Award

CCEA Plus celebrates outstanding programs and projects that support “at-risk” students. Submit a program

  Call for Conference Presenters

Are you doing great things in alternative education? Submit your proposal for a workshop, or consider leading an academic open forum discussion in your content area. Sign up

  Student Essay Contest

The purpose of this contest is to recognize our outstanding students and their writing. Please consider entering your top student’s essay. Submit an essay


Time to Renew Your Membership!

Ridgeview High School, Proclamation Award 2019
Renew your membership for the 2020-2021 school year! If you’re not a member yet, now is the time to get involved.


Sign Up or Renew

New to CCEA Plus: Community Day Schools

In our efforts to expand support for alternative education in California, CCEA Plus now supports and advocates for Community Day Schools. We’ll be developing new programs, content and professional development for the 2020-2021 school year. Come to the Conference, create a seminar, or tell us about your program! Get in touch to learn more

A Special Message from Dan Sackheim, CDE Program Consultant and Liaison for Continuation Education and Community Day Schools:

Dan Sackheim, CDE Program Consultant and Liaison for Continuation Education and Community Day Schools

Many of you may already know me, as educational options educators often wear multiple hats. I am honored to have been the CDE community day school program consultant from nearly the inception, being hired as soon as the position was authorized in 1997. One of my first steps in that role was to find strong field experts, with whom I built the Community Day School Network (CDSN) professional association, to ensure that we all benefited from a collective wisdom. In recent months, the CDSN was invited and merged into CCEA to form CCEA Plus. Soon after, I was assigned as the CDE program consultant for continuation education.

I am still learning, but am not fully new to continuation education, having served as a member of review teams for Model Continuation High Schools. Additionally, at times, I have been the CDE program lead for many other types of educational options schools and programs share the same concerns and supportive methodologies for supporting our students, including opportunity education, county court and community schools, alternative schools of choice and independent study. I also share leadership at CDE regarding asset-based behavioral strategies and supports, and for addressing absenteeism and barriers to attendance.

I look forward to meeting you at conferences, in workshops and webinars, through my email and listserve, and any other way I can learn from and promote your wisdom and make resources and information available to you.


Webinar from AltEd advocacy:

K-12 Politics and Tech Update: October 1st 2020