Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

2026 California STEAM Symposium

The California Department of Education (CDE) is excited to announce that the annual California Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) Symposium will be featured at the Spring CUE Conference, powered by CALIE, from March 19–21, 2026, at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

Whether you are in the classroom or leading systems change, the STEAM Symposium is where ideas come to life.

This collaboration between the STEAM Symposium and the California Association for Leading Innovation in Education (formerly CUE) brings together two dynamic education communities for three days of cutting-edge learning, networking, and inspiration. From AI that transforms learning to instructional design that inspires; from igniting student engagement to redefining wellness; from immersive STEAM experiences to bold new approaches in school leadership, this combined experience is where innovation, inspiration, and integration meet.

Breakout session themes include:

• STEAM: Building Skill, Spark, and Confidence
• AI in Real Life: Teaching, Learning, and Leading with Intelligence
• Curriculum in Action: Innovating Instruction for Today’s Learners
• Digital Decisions: Building Smarter Systems That Serve Learning
• Mindful Tech: Wellness, Connection, and Digital Balance
• Leading for Tomorrow: Transforming Schools, Systems, and Learning

Event Details

• Dates: Thursday, March 19, through Saturday, March 21, 2026
• Time: Starts at 9 a.m. on March 19 and ends at 1 p.m. on March 21
• Location: Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA 92262
• Opening Keynote: Lisa Moe, 2026 Riverside County Teacher of the Year will speak on “Embracing Now: The Power of the Present in Education” (https://cdefoundation.org/cde_programs/steam/).
• Registration Information: Early bird pricing ends December 1, 2025
• Co-Hosts: The CDE, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation

Visit the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation’s STEAM Initiatives web page at https://cdefoundation.org/cde_programs/steam/ to learn more and to register.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction