Established in 2006, the Center for Applied Policy in Education (CAP-Ed) at UC Davis works with district and school leaders to meaningfully connect research, policy, and practice with a commitment to eliminating inequities in schooling, providing learning opportunities for diverse students. Over the past eighteen years CAP-Ed has been connecting education leaders and practitioners with nonpartisan, research-supported information and expertise from scholars and policymakers. Our services and publications foster and support a thoughtful, well-informed education system in California in collaboration with policy makers and educators implementing policy in schools and districts. 

CAP-Ed’s Moral Imperative: To directly support district and school leaders to create and sustain an education system grounded in educational equity and social justice which creates the conditions that all students can learn, thrive, and grow.

We bring networks of educators together to explore leadership challenges and opportunities and to harness the power of collective inquiry. We developed our case study model for collective inquiry and network design in 2014 with generous support from the Stuart Foundation. We launched at second superintendents’ network in partnership with the University of California, San Diego in 2019. The California Superintendents’ Collaborative Network at UC Davis is now in its 9th year. 

CAP-Ed Launches New 21CSLA Principals’ Collaborative Network in Northern California in Partnership with CSU Chico

The California Department of Education has made a historic $42 million investment in educational leaders through the 21st Century California School Leadership (21CSLA). As part of this initiative, the School of Education’s Center for Applied Policy in Education (CAP-Ed) has developed and launched the 21CSLA Principals’ Collaborative Network, which is focused on shared leadership, instructional improvement, and measurable positive outcomes for students. Through a series of collaborative sessions, participating principals are supported in developing methods for collaborative professionalism focused on areas of improvement in their schools that they identify as high leverage, based on data, and informed by research. CAP-Ed has developed the network in partnership with the Northern California Educational Leadership Consortium, the UC Berkeley School of Education, UCLA School of Education and Information Studies, and the UC San Diego-based California Subject Matter Project. Read more about 21CSLA.

Year Two - 21CLSA Principals’ Collaborative Network (2024-2025)

The 21CLSA Principals’ Collaborative Network is a unique opportunity for principals to collaborate, providing them with both support and new ideas for addressing challenges and priorities in their schools. Enrollment is now open for the program, a partnership with 21CSLA in Northern California in 2024-2025, NorCal ELC and the Center for Applied Policy in Education at UC Davis.

One principal put it this way, “I am coming away from the session with new ideas and things to try out in my school. I am so thankful for everyone’s input and support.” Another shared, “I love learning. And with people’s openness and engagement, this is true professional learning.”

Eight network sessions from August 2024 - May 2025 will support a cadre of 25-30 principals to participate. Funded by a grant from the California Department of Education; enrollment is FREE.

Enrollment link: https://lnkd.in/gTwQ4Tdp

CAP-Ed Services & Practices

• Publishing and distributing syntheses of current research and policy to inform policymaking and policy implementation throughout the education system.
• Hosting annual seminars for policymakers and education stakeholders with experts in key education topics focused on equity and school improvement.
• Assembling collaborative systems and instructional rounds to mobilize intersectional, reform-oriented networks that are research informed and actionable.
• Conducting new education policy research on key topics such as district and school leadership, school finance, accountability, and curriculum and instruction with an equity lens.

Current Programs & Services

California Superintendents’ Collaborative Networks

Superintendents’ Executive Leadership Forum (SELF)

California Principals’ Collaborative Networks

California Institute for School Improvement (CISI)