Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo
California Department of Education
Official Letter
California Department of Education
Official Letter
October 9, 2023

Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, High School Principals, Counselors, and Scholarship Coordinators:

2024 Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project

I am requesting your help in disseminating to your students information about a statewide conference sponsored by the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project (APYLP), which is a nonprofit organization.

The APYLP works with Asian and Pacific Islander students in California to build on their understanding of what it means to be Asian and Pacific Islander American youth in today’s culturally and ethnically diverse society. The APYLP high school conference offers group workshops on leadership development, cultural identity and awareness, the legislative process, and public speaking skills, as well as an opportunity to participate in mock legislative sessions and to hear from elected officials and prominent speakers from the Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

Fifty juniors and seniors will be selected from the statewide applicants to participate in this conference March 21–24, 2024, in Sacramento. The APYLP will pay all expenses for the participants, including travel, lodging, and meal expenses, through sponsorships from private corporations, higher education institutions, professional organizations, and other individuals.

The organization is especially interested in reaching students who have leadership potential but have difficulty developing or realizing that potential due to language, economic, cultural, or other barriers. Applications must be submitted or postmarked no later than December 2, 2023.

APYLP is celebrating its thirty-fourth anniversary in 2024 and could not have achieved its successes without the support of California educators over the years. For more information and to download an application, visit the APYLP website at https://www.apylp.net/.

Thank you for your assistance in promoting this wonderful opportunity for our students.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Last Reviewed: Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Recently Posted in Letters

  • 2027 California Schools to Watch Program (added 13-May-2026)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Middle School Principals regarding an invitation to apply for the 2027 California Schools to Watch program.
  • AAPI Heritage Month Kickoff Webinar (added 13-May-2026)
    Letter to county and district superintendents, charter school administrators, and school principals regarding Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month kickoff webinar: Living History at Angel Island Immigration Station.
  • Invitation to SSPI's Literacy Leadership Summit (added 12-May-2026)
    Letter to county and district superintendents and charter school administrators regarding an invitation to State Superintendent Thurmond's Literacy Leadership Summit.
  • Reminder: Graduates’ Rights to Wear Tribal Regalia (added 23-Apr-2026)
    Joint letter from the California Department of Education and the California Department of Justice regarding a reminder of graduates’ rights to wear tribal regalia.
  • Reminder: Graduates’ Rights to Wear Tribal Regalia (added 22-Apr-2026)
    Joint letter from the CDE and California Department of Justice to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals reminding them of graduates’ rights to wear tribal regalia.

  • Celebration of California State Student Authors (added 03-Apr-2026)
    Letter regarding the Celebration of California State Student Authors.
  • Approved List of Screening Instruments for TK (added 27-Mar-2026)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding the approved list of screening instruments for Transitional Kindergarten Multilingual Learners.
  • Upcoming Observance of Farmworkers Day (added 26-Mar-2026)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding the upcoming observance of Farmworkers Day on March 31, 2026.
  • 2026 Workplace Readiness Week (added 26-Mar-2026)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding Workplace Readiness Week.
  • Supporting Student Mental Health (added 24-Mar-2026)
    Joint letter from the California Department of Education, the California Department of Health Care Services, and the California Health and Human Services Agency to colleagues regarding supporting student mental health.