More than 650 attendees, presenters, and sponsors gathered at the 2025 California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference in Sacramento on February 23-26.
Now in its third year, the conference featured pre-conference workshops, two full days of keynote and breakout sessions, site visits to area high schools, and two post-conference workshops including a “Legislative 101 Training and Capitol Tour” led by EdTrust-West. CLP co-hosted the event with EdTrust-West and the California Alliance of Dual Enrollment Partnerships.
California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian, Santiago Canyon College President Jeannie Kim, and State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond opened the conference, emphasizing the commitment of the K-12 and community college systems to supporting students in college and career success through dual enrollment opportunities.
Darling-Hammond noted, “The promise of this initiative is enormous for changing the landscape of both high school and college and for launching young people on a path to a more successful, ambitious future.”
This year’s conference included a daily Student Voice Keynote. On the first day, attendees heard from dual enrollment student ambassadors Tyra Fleming and Joshua Miguel de Leon in a panel discussion facilitated by CLP Executive Director Linda Collins. In their role as student ambassadors at American Canyon High School, they provide peer support to students taking college courses through dual enrollment with Napa Valley College.
Celeste Lopez, currently a student at Sacramento State University, gave the second day’s Student Voice Keynote. Lopez took college courses at Sacramento City College while she was at Davis Senior High School. “My experience with dual enrollment was transformative,” she said, “Dual enrollment gave me a head start on my educational goals.”
Following her keynote, Lopez introduced former Assemblymember Chris Holden as the first recipient of the Dual Enrollment Equity Champion Award. The award honors leaders who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to advancing equitable dual enrollment opportunities in California. As the state assembly member representing Pasadena, Holden authored AB 288, the groundbreaking legislation that established College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) in 2016. CCAP has expanded students’ access to college courses designed along pathways, with a focus on underrepresented students and those who might not otherwise attend college.
Check out the conference program, where you’ll find links to session materials (look for the paper clip icon next to the session titles).
And mark your calendar for next year’s conference on March 16-19, 2026!