Professional Learning
Registration System

Five 2-hr virtual sessions will be held on dates: 10/14/2026, 12/9/2026, 1/13/2027, 3/10/2027, 4/14/2027

The Capitol Area Regional Transformational Assistance Center (R-TAC), co-facilitated with the Community Schools Learning Exchange (CSLX), provides a virtual learning series focused on the key components of the Community Schools Framework and the foundational practices needed to implement and sustain community schools. The series offers grounding in the Community Schools Framework and capacity-building strategies, along with hands-on tools, opportunities to learn from experienced community school leaders, and networking with fellow community school grantees working toward school and community transformation.

Recommended for Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) grantees and specifically site leads and community school staff.

¡Hola! We invite you to learn common phrases and language to use with colleagues, family and friends.  

Join us for a fun conversational practice using everyday language, sharing about yourself, and 

expand your vocabulary with new words and phrases.

Embark on a joyful journey in the Spanish language making new friends! ¡Vamonos!

Participants will develop speaking and listening skills that can be used in personal and professional settings.

Building upon the foundational learning established in the previous year, this continued professional learning series will engage returning cadre members in expanding their practice in designing and facilitating integrated Grade TK–3 STEAM learning experiences. Sessions will focus on the development of hands-on, developmentally appropriate instruction grounded in curiosity, inquiry, creativity, and real-world problem solving. Participants will deepen their understanding of effective STEAM integration through collaborative planning, reflection, and the sharing of implementation experiences to strengthen instructional practices and student engagement. The series will also continue to support the development of a STEAM growth mindset through immersive learning opportunities and ongoing professional collaboration.

This learning sequence will consist of two required in-person sessions and one required virtual touchpoint. In addition, we are excited to offer several optional virtual touchpoints throughout the year for your convenience. These optional sessions are designed to provide additional opportunities for collaboration, support, and resource sharing.

Required In Person Session Dates and Time:                                                     

October 27, 2026 - 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM   

March 3, 2027 - 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM                         

Location:   

David P. Meaney Education Center

10474 Mather Blvd

Mather CA, 95655  

Mather Room

Virtual Touch Point:

Date and Time: TBD (January 2027)  

Optional Virtual Touchpoints:

Additional dates and times will be available during registration.

Registration Reminder:

When registering, please be sure to select the required in-person sessions and the required virtual touchpoint. You are also welcome to register for any of the optional virtual touchpoints that fit your schedule and interests.

We look forward to welcoming you to another year of hands-on exploration, collaboration, and discovery! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Four 1.5-hr virtual sessions will be held on dates: 10/15/2026, 12/17/2026, 2/18/2027, 4/22/2027

Capitol Area Regional Transformational Assistance Center (R-TAC) provides community schools workshops for county office of education (COE) staff from the 12 Capitol Area counties (Alpine, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sierra, Solano, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba). The goal of the COE Network for Community Schools is for COE staff to learn about strategies to support California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) grantees in their counties, receive state and regional updates, share highlights of community schools implementation, and network on problems of practice.

Looking for targeted, hands-on PD? Join our CPE/STEAM Workshops on loose parts, designed for all early childhood educators (center-based, family child care, Head Start, FFN).

This 2-Hour In-Person Workshop Includes:

• Interactive presentation on a STEAM topic

• Real classroom video + reflection

• Hands-on Tinker and Take session

• Tools you can use right away

• Aligned with CA Preschool Learning Foundations (PTKLF)

A Practice-Based STEAM Workshop for Early Childhood Educators

From soaring seeds to sail-powered cars, wind invites children to wonder, test, and discover. In this practice-based workshop, educators will explore playful ways to use wind as a force for learning — sparking curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving in young learners.

This interactive session follows our proven structure:

• 45-Minute Engaging Presentation — Discover how wind play connects to STEAM concepts like force, lift, motion, and design.

• 15-Minute Video Reflection — See wind-powered learning in action and discuss strategies to bring it to life.

• 60-Minute Tinker & Take — Create hands-on wind exploration tools you can bring back to your program the very next day.

You’ll leave with:

• A deeper understanding of how wind builds early science, engineering, and math skills.

• Ready-to-use activities — from flying seeds to floating balls to sail-powered cars.

• Materials and ideas you can implement right away in your classroom or program.

Looking for targeted, hands-on PD? Join our CPE/STEAM Workshops on light and shadow designed for all early childhood educators (center-based, family child care, Head Start, FFN).

 This 2-Hour In-Person Workshop Includes:

• Interactive presentation on a STEAM topic

• Real classroom video + reflection

• Hands-on Tinker and Take session

• Tools you can use right away

• Aligned with CA Preschool Learning Foundations (PTKLF)

Looking for targeted, hands-on PD? Join our CPE/STEAM Workshops on art in STEAM, designed for all early childhood educators (center-based, family child care, Head Start, FFN).

This 2-Hour In-Person Workshop Includes:

• Interactive presentation on a STEAM topic

• Real classroom video + reflection

• Hands-on Tinker and Take session

• Tools you can use right away

• Aligned with CA Preschool Learning Foundations (PTKLF)

Looking for targeted, hands-on PD? Join our CPE/STEAM Workshops on engineering creative content, designed for all early childhood educators (center-based, family child care, Head Start, FFN).

This 2-Hour In-Person Workshop Includes:

• Interactive presentation on a STEAM topic

• Hands-on Tinker and Take session

• Tools you can use right away

• Aligned with CA Preschool Learning Foundations (PTKLF)

This session explores the engineering design process through cardboard tinkering, inviting participants to design, build, and refine structures using simple materials. Through challenges that emphasize creativity, constraints, and iteration, participants investigate how materials, joinery techniques, and structural decisions impact stability and function. Along the way, educators reflect on how to adapt tinkering experiences to their own contexts, identifying practical pathways for integrating meaningful, learner-centered STEAM experiences into diverse teaching spaces.

Participants will:

• Learn Maker Studio Norms

• Discuss Reverse Engineering 

• Explore Cardboard Joinery

• Learn About Engineering Design Challenge

Looking for targeted, hands-on PD? Join our CPE/STEAM Workshops on the power of trees, designed for all early childhood educators (center-based, family child care, Head Start, FFN).

This 2-Hour In-Person Workshop Includes:

• Interactive presentation on a STEAM topic

• Hands-on Tinker and Take session

• Tools you can use right away

• Aligned with CA Preschool Learning Foundations (PTKLF

Participants will:

• Develop an understanding of tree anatomy

• Identify strategies for supporting children 0-5 in the Life Sciences

• Identify strategies for documenting and communicating our learning to deepen our understanding of STEAM content

2-Part Series

Outcomes:

• Review the components and structure of the Best Practices for Planning Curriculum for Young Children: Family Partnerships and Culture.

• Discuss how to utilize and apply information from Best Practices for Planning Curriculum for Young Children: Family Partnerships and Culture.

• Reflect upon and share about personal culture influences in the early childhood setting.

2 Part Series

Outcomes:

• Review the components and structure of the Best Practices for Planning Curriculum for Young Children: Family Partnerships and Culture.

• Discuss how to utilize and apply information from Best Practices for Planning Curriculum for Young Children: Family Partnerships and Culture.

• Reflect upon and share about personal culture influences in the early childhood setting.

Session Focus:

•Discuss the purpose of the Responsive Early Education for Young Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness publication through reading and discussion.

•Explore the various definitions of homelessness.

•Discover the diversity of families experiencing homelessness and practice critical reflection.

•Identify specific teaching strategies in communication and classroom practice to support young children and families experiencing homelessness.

Outcomes:

• Discover the purpose of this publication The Powerful Role of Play in Education through reading and discussion.

• Explore the research-based connections between play and learning through group activities and readings.

• Experience the benefits and debunk common myths about play and learning.

• Consider planning opportunities for individualization and scaffolding within the reflective planning cycle.

Outcomes

• Identify the connection between language and social and emotional development.

• Explore strategies to integrate into practice.

• Reflect on the role of adults in modeling and encouraging communication.

We will discuss the purpose of this publication through reading and discussion.

• Review content through group activities and readings.

• Identify and discuss components of the reflective planning cycle.

• Describe planning opportunities for individualization and scaffolding within the reflective planning cycle.

Outcomes:

• Review the PTKLF Approaches to Learning (ATL) domain for children, aged three to five-and-a half years.

• Discuss the ATL domain.

• Identify how teachers can support ATL.

• Recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Outcomes:

• Review the PTKLF Physical Development domain for children aged three to five-and-a-half years.

• Build an understanding of the Physical Development domain.

• Discuss how the PTKLF are representative of children's cultures, languages, and lived experiences.

• Identify how teachers can support children’s learning and development in physical development.

   

OUTCOMES:

• Review the Visual and Performing Arts domain for children aged three to five-and-a-half years.

• Build an understanding of the Visual and Performing Arts domain.

• Discuss how the PTKLF are representative of children's cultures, languages, and lived experiences.

• Identify how teachers can support children’s learning and development in visual and performing arts.

Outcomes

• Review the PTKLF History–Social Science domain for children aged three to five-and-a-half years.

• Build an understanding of the History–Social Science domain.

• Discuss how the PTKLF are representative of children's cultures, languages, and lived experiences.

• Identify how teachers can support children’s learning and development in the History–Social Science domain.