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WAI State Advisory Meeting February 26–27, 2026

WorkAbility I (WAI) State Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda.

To obtain information to access the WAI Advisory Committee Meeting virtually, please contact the WAI inbox at WorkAbility1@cde.ca.gov.

WAI State Advisory Committee Members

  • Ray Bueche, Chair
    Linda Osborn, Chair Alternate
    Adria Brownell, Secretary

    Lisa Garcia
    Linda Osborn
    Liza Stack
    Melissa Mills
    Lisa Fettig
    Annette Rodarte
    Jorge Aleman
    Julie Romero
    Ginny Martineau
    Priscilla Arballo
    Kymberly Hirst
    Mercille Lush
    Sherry Travis
    Bridget Denton
    Dane Cangro
    Jamie Fitch
    Lynn Bakke

Guidelines for Public Input Sessions

The WAI Advisory welcomes public involvement. Opportunities for public comment are provided at every meeting.

Reasonable Accommodation for Any Individual With a Disability

Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, any individual with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to attend or participate in a meeting or function of the WAI Advisory Committee (WAI Advisory) may request assistance by contacting the California Department of Education (CDE) Special Education Division (SED), 1430 N Street, Suite 2401, Sacramento, CA 95814; telephone: 916-445-4602.

Agenda Items

Agenda times are approximate and are provided for convenience only.

Items may be re-ordered or heard on any day of the noticed meeting or on a subsequent agenda. The order of business may be changed without notice.

Day 1 — Thursday, February 26, 2026, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time ±

California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 4101
Sacramento, California 95814
916-445-4602

Time Item
9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
  • Item 1—Call to Order: Welcome and Introductions; Mission and Vision; Approval of Minutes.
9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • Item 2—California Department of Education Response to Advisory: CDE staff will provide a response to WAI Committee Recommendations.
10:30 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.
  • Item 3—Public Comment: General public comment is invited on any matter, including items not on the agenda. Issues raised by the public may be referred to a future meeting agenda. Chair reserves the right to establish time limits on presentations.
10:40 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
  • Break
10:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
  • Item 4—Committee and Regional Updates: Region co-managers and committee chairs share news, updates, and status on WAI action plans.
12:20 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • Item 5—Public Comment: General public comment is invited on any matter, including items not on the agenda. Issues raised by the public may be referred to a future meeting agenda. Chair reserves the right to establish time limits on presentations.
12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  • Lunch: Lunch is not provided; lunch on your own.
2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
  • Item 6—California Department of Education Update: CDE staff will discuss recent developments within the SED, as well as updates to key areas related to the WAI grant.
2:45 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.
  • Item 7—Public Comment: General public comment is invited on any matter, including items not on the agenda. Issues raised by the public may be referred to a future meeting agenda. Chair reserves the right to establish time limits on presentations.
2:50 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.
  • Item 8—Report on WAI Advisory Grant-Fiscal Spending & Support Survey: Region Managers will report on findings from their regions regarding survey results related to spending, program needs, and training, as well as on how all funds allocated by CDE are used.
3:20 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.
  • Item 9—WAI Emerging Topics: The WAI Advisory Committee will discuss issues affecting the state that will include: best practices on how to expend funds.
3:50 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Item 10—Public Comment: General public comment is invited on any matter, including items not on the agenda. Issues raised by the public may be referred to a future meeting agenda. Chair reserves the right to establish time limits on presentations.
4 p.m.
  • Recess until 8:30 a.m., Friday, February 27, 2026

Day 2 — Friday, February 27, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific Time ±

California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, California 95814
916-445-4602

Time Item
8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
  • Item 1—Call to Order: Welcome and Introductions; Mission and Vision.
8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
  • Item 2—WAI Post-School Data: Representatives from the California Collaborative on Impactful Pathways will present best practices to engage students in support of the successful completion of the Follow-Up process for WAI grantees.
9:45 a.m. to 9:50 a.m.
  • Item 3—Public Comment: General public comment is invited on any matter, including items not on the agenda. Issues raised by the public may be referred to a future meeting agenda. Chair reserves the right to establish time limits on presentations.
9:50 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
  • Break
10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
  • Item 4—WorkAbility I Works for All: Program highlights from practitioners across the state. This month, the WAI Advisory Committee will be highlighting projects in Agriculture.
10:50 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.
  • Item 5—WAI Committee Reports: The WAI Committees on Bylaws, Budget, Business Development, and Student Voice will share new information that the teams developed.
11:25 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • Item 6—Public Comment: General public comment is invited on any matter, including items not on the agenda. Issues raised by the public may be referred to a future meeting agenda. The chair reserves the right to establish time limits on presentations.
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  • Lunch: Lunch is not provided; lunch on your own.
1:00 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.
  • Item 7—WorkAbility I Advisory Committee Recommendations to the California Department of Education: The WAI Advisory Committee continues to develop a list of recommendations to the CDE.
1:50 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Item 8—Public Comment: General public comment is invited on any matter, including items not on the agenda. Issues raised by the public may be referred to a future meeting agenda. Chair reserves the right to establish time limits on presentations.
2 p.m. Pacific Time
  • Adjourn Meeting

Questions:   WorkAbility I | WorkAbility1@cde.ca.gov | 916-327-0878
Last Reviewed: Friday, July 17, 2026
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