Wednesday December 5, 2001
Thursday December 6, 2001
Friday December 7, 2001

8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Registration

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Federal Update: Status of ESEA Reauthorization
(Joint session with the AFI Federal Budget and Taxation Committee, ASI Fiscal Affairs Committee)

NCSL staff will update meeting participants on the status of reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, review NCSL's position and lobbying efforts and examine how the current legislation will impact state education policy on issues, such as special education funding, literacy and student testing.

Speakers: David Shreve, Senior Committee Director of the Education, Labor and Workforce Development Committee, NCSL.
Speakers (invited):
1. Sandy Kress, The White House.
National Republican Legislators Association (NRLA):
2. Ralph Tanner, Chair, Kansas House Education Committee
3. Thomas Toch, Brookings Institution
4. Mike Cohen, Aspen.

3:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Second Session of the 107^th: Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Innovation (OERI)
(AFI Education, Labor and Workforce Development Committee)

As the tumultuous first session of the 107^th draws to a close with ESEA reforms dominating its final days, Congress prepares for the second session with equally difficult issues ahead. The federal special education law is due for renewal with the Administration promising significant reforms. The Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) provides national leadership for educational research and statistics. OERI conducts research, collects statistics on the status and progress of schools and education throughout the nation and distributes information and provides technical assistance to those working to improve education.

Speakers: (Invited)
1. Kara Haas, Office of Congressman Mike Castle
2. Andrew J. Rotherham, Progressive Policy Institute
3. Siobhan Gorman, The National Journal.

4:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

ASI and AFI Steering Committee Meetings
(For committee officers)

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

ASI/AFI/SGAC Reception.

Thursday, December 6

7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Registration

7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m.

Student Achievement Data: What Can We
Learn?
(Joint Session with the ASI Education Committee)

State legislatures will have new data to evaluate classroom teaching and learning if Congress enacts the provisions requiring states to test students annually in grades 3 through 8. This session will examine value-added assessment currently being used in Tennessee and several districts across the country to identify high and low performing teachers. Dr. Sanders, the pioneer of value-added assessment, will discuss this approach and its policy implications for teacher quality and accountability.

Moderator:
Representative Alice Seagren, Minnesota, ASI Education Committee Chair

Speaker: (Invited)
Dr. William Sanders, Manager of Value-Added Assessment and Research, SAS in School, North Carolina.

10:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

State Standards and Assessments: Update and Discussion
(Joint with ASI Education Committee)

After a brief overview of state standards and assessment systems, participants will share their state policies and discuss the potential implications of moving toward a yearly-testing model as being discussed under ESEA. In addition, the on-line assessment system used by South Dakota, which offers on-demand access and immediate results- will be demonstrated at this session.

Moderator: (Invited).
Matt Gandal, Vice President and Director, Washington DC Office, Achieve, Inc., Maryland.

12:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

Opening Plenary Session
The States and National Security

The security steps the country has taken since the September 11^th Terrorists' attacks and the role of state governments in this national effort is the focus of this session.

Speaker: Tom Ridge, Director federal Office of Homeland Security.

2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Unemployment Insurance Reforms and the Congressional Economic Stimulus (AFI Education, Labor and Workforce Development Committee)

The state-federal partnership in providing unemployment insurance to those who lose their jobs is most visible when the economy slows precipitously, as it has in the last few months. The economic stimulus proposals considered by Congress all addressed UI issues, each in its own fashion. What federal changes have emerged and how will this impact your unemployed constituents and your state's approach to UI statutes?

Speakers: (Invited)
1. Richard Hobbie, National Association of State Workforce Agencies.
2. Wayne Vroman, The Urban Institute.
3. AFL-CIO.

3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Low Wage Workers in an Uncertain Economy
(Joint with ASI Economic & Cultural Development and AFI Human Services)

Historically, low-wage and minimum-wage workers, particularly those recently making the transition from welfare-to-work, often feel disproportionate effects of an economic downturn. Is the current slowing economy likely to stay true to past patterns and what, if any, state and federal policy changes need to be considered?

Speakers: (Invited)
1. Kelleen Kaye, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services.
2. AFL-CIO.

4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Reception at Union (Sponsored by Amtrak).

Friday, December 7

7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Registration

7:30 a.m. -8:30 a.m.

 Registration

8:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m.

Special Briefings

The State Legislatures' Response to Terrorism

Legislatures will tackle many tough aspects of the recent terrorists' events in the next legislative session including: protecting water, electricity and natural gas supplies and infrastructure; maintaining fire and police forces as National Guard and reservists are called up for duty; and defining the crimes related to terrorism and the appropriate penalties. This session will examine these issues, explain how terrorists think about public buildings as targets, and clarify what federal actions may affect the states.

Telecommunications Taxes--Legislative Action for 2002

In an era of deregulation and competition, the

existing telecommunications tax system is fast becoming unworkable and costly to administer for both state tax departments and telecommunications carriers. One area in which this is especially true is in determining which jurisdiction has authority to tax very mobile telecommunication services. This special briefing will discuss the federal Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act and state proposals to establish uniform rules.

Welfare Reform Reauthorization: What are the Stakes for the States?

In 1996, the federal government adopted historic welfare reform legislation, including the creation of the TANF block grant with tremendous policymaking flexibility for the states. As Congress approaches reauthorization this year, what are the key issues? With new budget pressures, will TANF funds be cut? Could flexibility be lost?

10:45 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

Business Meeting

12:15- 2:00 p.m.

Closing Plenary Lunch
The Federal Budget Outlook

The federal budget has moved from record surpluses to great uncertainty in a few months. How will states be affected by the federal budget outlook? Will there be a reemergence of unfunded mandates and other cost shifts? This session officially closes the joint AFI and ASI meeting and opens the seminar for fiscal chairs.

2:00 p.m.

AFI/ASI adjourns.