Reallocation of Scarce State Resources:  A Seminar for Education Committee Chairs

This invitational meeting was held November 10-12 at the Brown Palace Hotel in downtown Denver, Colorado.

 The purpose of gathering legislative education committee chairs from across the country was to give them the opportunity to talk with national experts about how to invest precious state resources in policies and programs that improve student outcomes. In particular, sessions were focused on education funding, teacher effectiveness, digital learning and common core state standards. Legislators also had the unique chance to participate in conversations with their fellow chairs on ways to lead their state through these difficult fiscal times.

 NCSL gratefully acknowledges support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for sponsoring this seminar.  

Seminar Agenda & Presentations

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Thursday, November 10 | Friday, November 11 | Saturday, November 12

November 10, 2011

Introduction and Meeting Overview

Julie Davis Bell briefed particpants on the meeting agenda and the general purpose of the seminar.

Reallocation of Scarce State Resources:  A Conversation with an Expert

Participants will hear from a leading researcher and education finance expert at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation who will frame how state legislators might think differently about their investment in education to maximize scarce state dollars and improve student achievement.

 Speaker:

Marguerite Roza, Senior Data and Economic Advisor in U.S. Programs, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

November 11, 2011

Breakfast and Discussion—Framing a New Conversation:  Digital Media and Learning

What does the research say about parent, teacher ands student attitudes toward digital media and learnng, and how does this impact teaching and learning in the 21st Century classroom?

Speaker:

Linda Burch, Chief Education and Strategy Officer, Common Sense Media 

What is happening at the national level to identify and support the most effective education technology innovations?

Speakers:

Karen Cator, Director, Office of Educational Technology, U.S. Department of Education
Danica Petroshius, Principal, Penn Hill Group
 Chip Slaven, Senior Advocacy Associate, Alliance for Excellent Education  
 

What are opportunities and challenges for state policymakers around using technology in schools to transform the way students     learn?

Speakers:

Sunny Deyé, Program Principal, National Conference of State Legislatures
Geoff Fletcher, Deputy Executive Director, State Education Technology Directors Association

During this session, experts will discuss recent state efforts to improve educator effectiveness through better evaluation systems, tenure and compensation reform and the role of robust state data systems.  Particpants will have the opportunity to share their own experiences with this reform effort.

Speakers:

Sandi Jacobs, Vice President, National Council on Teacher Quality
Michelle Exstrom, Program Principal, National Conference of State Legislatures

Measures of Effective Teaching Project:  What Have We Learned?

In Fall 2009, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) project to test new approaches to measuring effective teaching and to improve the quality of informaiton about teaching effectiveness available to education professsionals within states and districts.  During this session, we will learn more about this project and hear from a teacher who participated in this important work.

Speakers:

Steve Cantrell, Senior Program Officer, Research and Data, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Lauren Landon, Teacher, Knapp Elementary School, Denver Public Schools 

Breakfast and Discussion:  Federal Education Policy Update

NCSL's federal education policy expert will provide an update on federal education policy initiates and their potential impact on state education budgets.

Speaker:

Lee Posey, Senior Committee Director, National Conference of State Legislatures

Common Core Standards:  What Should Legislators Know?

Experts will discuss the adoption and implementation of Common Core State Standards and implications for assessments, curriculum, and preparation and professional learning for teachers.

Speakers:

Pascal (Pat) Forgione, Distinguished Presidential Scholar and Executive Director, Center for K-12 Assessment & Performance     Management at ETS
Gavin Payne, Former Chief Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education
Randy DeHoff, Former Vice Chairman, Colorado State Board of Education

Legislative Perspectives on Common Core State Standards

In this discussion, state legislators will discuss their role in their state's implementation of the Common Core State Standards.  Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences and discuss the promise and challenge of this reform.

Speakers:

Representative Ted Edmonds, Kentucky
Senator John Goedde, Idaho