Webinar: Accelerating Learning: Using assessments to determine student needs
The Accelerating Learning series features five webinars designed for school system leaders, their teams, and other education stakeholders to inform their work in supporting student learning in the pandemic and post-pandemic world. Co-produced by the Learning Policy Institute and The School Superintendents Association (AASA), the webinars provide research on effective accelerated learning practices, examples from a diverse set of districts, and an opportunity for participants to dig into the nuts and bolts of strategies. Topics are summer learning, tutoring, expanded learning time, formative and diagnostic assessments, and centering equity.
How can districts assess their students’ experiences and needs and provide targeted supports for accelerating learning? Panelists will discuss strategies to assess students’ social and emotional well-being, as well as to illuminate student growth and learning through authentic diagnostic and formative assessments. They will discuss best practices to avoid separating students into tracks and to foster heterogeneous groups. This webinar is the fourth in a five-part series focused on strategies to accelerate student learning and support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Jorge Aguilar, Superintendent, Sacramento City Unified School District (CA)
• Baron Davis, Superintendent, Richland School District Two (SC)
• Heather Hough, Executive Director, Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE)
• Monica Martinez, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Learning Policy Institute (moderator)
• John Payne, Deputy Superintendent, South Carolina Department of Education
• Molly Spearman, South Carolina Superintendent of Education
May 18, 2021 12:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
REL Webinar: Integrating Reading Foundations: A Tool for College Instructors of Pre-Service Teachers
Join REL Southeast for this webinar to provide college instructors of pre-service teachers with an overview of Integrating Reading Foundations: A Tool for College Instructors of Pre-Service Teachers. REL Southeast developed the tool to supplement the What Works Clearinghouse practice guide Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade. This resource complements and extends the practice guide by providing lessons to assist college instructors in building pre-service teacher knowledge of evidence-based strategies for helping students in kindergarten through grade 3 acquire the language and literacy skills to succeed academically.
The webinar will have three presenters:
• Jennifer Dombek, REL Southeast
• Laurie Lee, REL Southeast
• Phyllis Underwood, Retired Research and Teaching Faculty from Florida State University
Integrating Reading Foundations: A Tool for College Instructors of Pre-Service Teachers
May 19, 2021; 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
Register here
REL Webinar: Improving and Diversifying the Teacher Pipeline
Join REL Midwest for a free webinar on research takeaways and actionable strategies to help states and teacher preparation programs build stronger, more diverse teacher pipelines.
During the webinar—
- Dr. Yinmei Wan and Max Pardo will share the findings of the REL Midwest study Understanding the Teacher Pipeline for Indiana’s K–12 Public Schools.
- Scott Bogan and Rebecca Estes from the Indiana Department of Education and Dr. Sarah-Kate LaVan from the Michigan Department of Education will share their reflections on the study findings and state-level strategies to support teacher candidates.
- Dr. Kathryn Obenchain from Purdue University and Dr. Leah Nellis from Indiana University Kokomo will discuss barriers to entering and completing educator preparation programs, strategies to improve equity, and strategies to support different affinity groups.
This webinar is open to the public. State K–12 education agency leaders, state higher education leaders, and teacher preparation program leaders will be particularly interested. Unable to attend? Register to be notified when the webinar recording is posted.
Improving and Diversifying the Teacher Pipeline
May 24, 2021
3:00–4:15 p.m. Eastern Time / 2:00–3:15 p.m. Central Time
Register here
Webinar: Illinois’ Early Childhood Education Workforce Report
The IL Early Childhood Workforce report draws on the Gateways to Opportunity Registry to provide rich, descriptive data about the workforce, sharing aggregated information about their demographics, education and credentials, compensation, and longevity in the field.
Join us in a conversation with policymakers, advocates, funders, and others to discuss how to improve career pathways, increase retention, and significantly raise compensation.
May 24, 2021 10:00 AM in Central Time (US and Canada)
REL Webinar: Effective Data Use to Support English Learner Students
Join REL Pacific for a two-part webinar series to learn about research-based practices related to data use, assessment, and accountability system development to support English learner students. Participants will also begin or continue examining their available data and identifying data needs to support their accountability system implementation, with a focus on English learner students.
During the first webinar, participants will learn key elements for data-driven decision making and the appropriate use of data in the accountability cycle. Specifically, participants will:
• Understand key elements of data-driven decision making
• Understand assessment and other data needed to monitor the progress of English learner students
• Become familiar with research that presents accountability as a cycle
• Engage in discussion about the accountability cycle
• Reflect on where their jurisdiction or state is in the cycle, including data and communication needs and next steps
The intended audience is SEA staff working on English learner student support and performance, data use and accountability, and assessment development and administration.
Effective Data Use to Support English Learner Students, Part 1: Using Data to Inform Policies and Practices for English Learner Students
May 25, 2021
12:00 p.m. HST
Register here
Webinar: From Rescue to Rebuild: Developing a National ECE System that Works
Description: Hosted by the Learning Policy Institute, New America, and the Education Policy Initiative
Between historic bipartisan investments to stabilize and expand access to child care in 2020 and new proposals from Congress and the Biden Administration, the nation is poised to significantly increase access to quality early childhood education (ECE). These investments are acutely needed to ensure that all children—particularly children from families with low incomes—have access to high-quality ECE; working and middle class families have access to affordable care; and early educators are supported and adequately compensated.
As Congress and the Administration consider their next major investments in ECE, however, they need a vision for a new and better system. How do we ensure that our many early childhood programs—including child care subsidies, Head Start, state preschool, and special education programs—can be a system of coherent support from birth through early elementary? Experts will address this question in an upcoming webinar, “From Rescue to Rebuild: Developing a National ECE System That Works.” The webinar will focus on long-term federal policy solutions to build a comprehensive, equitable, and integrated early learning system, drawing from the work of the Learning Policy Institute and New America, as well as the authors of “Cradle to Kindergarten: A New Plan to Combat Inequality.” It will also address concrete actions that policymakers can take in the near term with federal stimulus funds.
Speakers:
- Laura Bornfreund, New America
- Ajay Chaudry, New York University
- U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
- Linda Darling-Hammond, Learning Policy Institute
- Hanna Melnick, Learning Policy Institute
- Christina Weiland, University of Michigan
Additional speakers to be added.
Time: Jun 3, 2021 01:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Panorama’s Virtual Summit: A Resilient Reopening
In February of 2021, over 13,000 educators and leaders registered for Panorama’s first-ever virtual summit to join the dialogue on centering equity and the whole child.
Now, as educators prepare to welcome students back for the upcoming school year, let’s come together to hear from leading experts and practitioners on how we can cultivate our community efficacy, creating learning environments anchored in:
• belonging and connection
• restorative and trauma-informed practices
• educator resilience
• family partnerships
• equity and inclusivity
To assist with summer professional development needs and accommodate the schedules of school districts across the country, certificates of attendance and professional learning resources will be provided for educators and leaders who join live or watch on-demand.
Webinar for educators, advocates, policymakers
An interactive webinar that will convene a national audience of school administrators, educators, advocates, and policymakers. Internationals Network will share findings from our report, perspectives of students, teachers, and school leaders on the pandemic’s impact, and highlight innovations from across our network schools. We will engage in discussion with participants and surface implications for policy and advocacy with the field. Participants will receive a copy of the report.
SAVE THE DATE: June 23, 2021 (4 pm EST)
National panel with district MLL leaders
In this interactive webinar, Internationals will engage district-level MLL/ELL decision-makers in an online panel to address considerations and recommendations specific to the needs of MLLs during school re-opening. Partnerships to share examples from the represented districts as well as create a space for a focused national conversation focused on MLLs.
SAVE THE DATE: July 14, 2021 (4 pm EST)
