 Spring Forum 2008
April 24-26, 2008
Hyatt Regency, Washington, D.C.
Presentations and Handouts
Pre-Conference: Comparative Indicators of State Performance on Adult Learning
8:30 - 12:00 PM
The United States faces a significant shortfall in the number of citizens who have earned college degrees at a time when achieving higher levels of education attainment has become critical. Educating working-aged adults is a key part of the solution to this problem. This workshop focuses on new state-specific data that will provide attendees with a means to assess their state's needs and performance on various aspects of adult learning: high school diploma, GED attainment of adults and enrollment of adults in postsecondary learning programs. There will be a discussion on policy options for meeting the needs of the adult learner. There is no additional fee for this session and everyone is welcome to attend.
NCSL Education Program Contact: Vincent Badolato
Speakers:
- Peter Ewell, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, Colorado
- Patrick Kelly, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, Colorado
- Karen Steinberg, Council on Adult and Experiential Learning, Illinois
- Pamela Tate, Council on Adult and Experiential Learning, Illinois
- Judy Wertheim, Council on Adult and Experiential Learning, Illinois
Holding Higher Institutions Accountable
(Co-Sponsored by the NCSL Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education)
1:15 - 2:30 pm
States are responsible for making sure that institutions of higher education are accountable, but the process by which that occurs is mysterious. Legislators particularly often don't understand the accreditation process. At this session, committee members can learn more about how the accreditation process works and get answers to their specific questions. We'll also discuss a new effort (the Voluntary System of Accountability) being developed by 70 public colleges and universities to develop a more transparent accountability system. NCSL Education Program Contacts: Julie Davis Bell, David Shreve and Robert Strange
For more information, please visit the NCSL Higher Education web page.
Presiding:
- Shirley Iorio, North Carolina General Assembly Staff Vice Chair, NCSL Standing Committee on Education
Speakers:
- Vickie Schray, Office of the Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. [ Website ]
- Judith Eaton, Council for Higher Education Accreditation, Washington, D.C. [ Website ]
- John Hammang, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Washington, D.C.[ Website ]
Closing the Achievement Gap
(Co-sponsored by the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators )
2:45 - 4:00 pm
Over the last 30 years, achievement for all students has increased. However, we find that the achievement gap between students of color and whites has not closed much at all, and in some cases it is increasing. This session will highlight some of these educational disparities and their root causes, as well as offer some policy ideas to close the gap.
NCSL Education Program Contact: Carlos Valverde
Presiding:
- Jan Yamane, In-House Counsel, Hawaii, Staff Vice Chair, NCSL Standing Committee on Education
Speakers:
- Representative John McCoy, Washington
- Senator Patricia Torres Ray, Minnesota [
 Presentation]
- Closing the Achievement Gap - [ Publication ]
Friday, April 25
Federal Update and Business Meeting
9:15 - 11:30 am
This session will update committee members on federal education issues, including the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind and the Higher Education Act, the federal budget, proposed changes to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children. Following the disussion, the committee will consider several proposed NCSL education policies.
NCSL Education Program Contacts: David Shreve and Robert Strange
For more information, please visit the NCSL Education Committee web page.
Presiding:
- Representative Rae Ann Kelsch, North Dakota
Chair, NCSL Standing Committee on Education
Speakers:
- Barmak Nassirian, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, Washington, D.C.
- Thomas Hinton, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Virginia
David Shreve, National Conference of State Legislatures, Washington, D.C.
Preparing Effective Leaders to Transform Schools: A Role for State Legislators
(Lunch is sponsored by The Wallace Foundation)
11:45 - 1:15 pm
Under the federal No Child Left Behind law and similarly demanding state requirements, school leaders are under increasing public pressure to turn around low-performing schools and significantly improve student achievement. Landmark research tells us that leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to student learning, especially in high-needs schools. More than ever, states need to develop and implement a comprehensive set of strategies to ensure that today’s leaders have the skills, knowledge and support required to guide the transformation of schools to meet higher standards and new requirements for progress. In this session, leaders at the state, district and school level will share examples of successful strategies, programs and partnerships that have helped districts recruit, prepare and support effective school leaders.
NCSL Education Program Contact: Sara Vitaska
For more information please visit the NCSL School Leadership webpage.
Presiding:
- Senator John Goedde, Idaho, Vice Chair, NCSL Standing Committee on Education
Speaker:
- Jody Spiro, The Wallace Foundation, New York [ Presentation]
Panelists:
- Phillip Rogers, Education Professional Standards Board, Kentucky
- Wendy Robinson, Fort Wayne Community Schools, Indiana
- Luis Torres, Bronx PS 55, New York
Additional Information:
Podcast
Standards for School Leaders Get New Thumbs Up
EducationWeek
February 25, 2008
Quality of Principal Mentoring Uneven, Report Says
EducationWeek
April 12, 2007
How Leadership Influences Student Learning
Published: 2004
Leadership not only matters: It is second only to teaching among school-related factors that affect student learning. And its impact is greatest in schools with the greatest needs, according to a comprehensive review of evidence on school leadership by researchers at the Universities of Minnesota and Toronto. This report, the first in a series that seeks to establish how leadership promotes student achievement, summarizes the basics of successful leadership and sets out what leaders must do — including setting a clear vision, supporting and developing a talented staff, and building a solid organizational structure — to meet the challenge of school reform.
Executive Summary: Preparing School Leaders for a Changing World Lessons from Exemplary Leadership Development Programs
Published: April 2007
Principals play a vital role in setting the direction for successful schools, but existing knowledge on the best ways to prepare and develop highly qualified Februarycandidates is sparse. What are the essential elements of good leadership? What are the features of effective pre-service and in-service leadership development programs? What governance and financial policies are needed to sustain good programs? The School Leadership Study: Developing Successful Principals is a major research effort that seeks to address these questions. Commissioned by The Wallace Foundation and undertaken by the Stanford Educational Leadership Institute in conjunction with The Finance Project, the study examines eight exemplary pre- and in-service program models that address key issues in developing strong leaders. Lessons from these exemplary programs may help other educational administration programs as they strive to develop and support school leaders who can shape schools into vibrant learning communities.
Education Leadership: A Bridge to School Reform - The Wallace Foundation
Published: December 2007
Comments by Linda Darling-Hammond, Kati Haycock, Richard Colvin and Wallace President M. Christine DeVita on the cirtical importance of school leadership, and how states and districts are improving it, are feartured in this special report on the Foundation's recent national education conference.
Strong Leaders Strong Schools: 2007 State Laws
Published: April 2008
Under the federal No Child Left Behind law and similarly demanding state requirements, school leaders (principals and superintendents) are under increased public pressure to turn around low-performing schools and significantly improve student achievement. Landmark research commissioned by The Wallace Foundation tells us that leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to student learning, especially in high-need schools. More than ever, states need to develop and implement comprehensive strategies to ensure that today’s leaders have the skills, knowledge and support required to guide the transformation of schools to meet higher standards and new requirements for progress.
A Closer Look at Dropouts: Going Beyond the Classroom
(Co-Sponsored by the Human Services and Welfare Committee)
1:45 - 3:15 pm
New research has given us insight into key early indicators of school dropouts, and some states are crafting promising plans to more effectively foster school/community partnerships to provide timely interventions and support to help more young people succeed. With the ongoing emphasis on raising graduation standards, how do we help more students reach graduation? How should these concerns be addressed in the current national discussion on our dropout problem?
NCSL Education Program Contact: Sunny Deyé
For more information please visit the NCSL High School web page.
Presiding:
- Frances Ramirez-Maestas, New Mexico, Staff Chair, NCSL Standing Committee on Education
Speakers:
- Louise Reaves, Communities In Schools, Virginia [ Presentation]
- Richard Wells, Americas Promise Alliance, Virginia [ Presentation]
- Noelle Ellerson, American Association of School Administrators, Virginia [ Presentation]
- Robert Balfanz, Center for Social Organization of Schools, John Hopkins University, Maryland
What's Driving College Costs?
(Co-Sponsored by the NCSL Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education and the Budget and Revenue Committee)
Legislators are concerned about the high cost of college and recent tuition increases. Over the past decade tuition and fees at public four-year colleges have risen by at least 50 percent, and student financial aid has not kept pace. In this session we'll hear about what is driving higher education expenses and how states are addressing the increases. We'll also update committee members on recent federal efforts to force states to maintain higher education appropriation levels to help control tuition costs.
NCSL Education Program Contacts: Julie Davis Bell, David Shreve and Robert Strange
For more information, please visit the NCSL Higher Education web page.
Presiding:
- Representative Rae Ann Kelsch, North Dakota, Chair, NCSL Standing Committee on Education
Speakers:
- Jane Wellman, Delta Project on Postsecondary Costs, Washington, D.C. [ Presentation]
- Richard Vedder, Center for College Affordability and Productivity, Washington, D.C. [ Website ]
Saturday, April 26
POST-CONFERENCE
Ensuring Latino Student Success: Best Practices and Lessons Learned from ENLACE Programs
(Sponsored by the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators)
11:30 - 1:00 pm
During the last decade, state policymakers have seen dramatic changes in the demographic make-up of their public schools. Latinos now represent the fastest growing segment of the nation's school-age population. Currently, numerous educational initiatives are occurring to narrow the achievement gap for Latino students. This session will highlight the ENgaging LAtino Communities for Education (ENLACE) program that has seen tremendous success across the country by taking a comprehensive approach to addressing the educational needs of the Latino community.
For more information please visit the NCSL ENLACE web page.
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