Breakout Presentation 5
Breakfast “Scores” High on Closing the Achievement Gap: Research Findings and Practical Applications
(Nancy Aaberg, Phyllis Bramson-Paul, Steven Ladd, William McCarthy)
How is breakfast related to academic performance? Consumption of breakfast has been consistently linked to academic achievement, based on the conclusions from numerous studies and reviews over the past decade. An effective and often overlooked strategy, offering the School Breakfast Program (especially outside of the cafeteria) can address low performing students’ needs as part of the district’s comprehensive plan for improving academic performance – and with little or no expenditure of district funds. Join this panel of experts who will link research from WestEd and other studies, and share resources and local applications related to school breakfast as a strategy for closing the achievement gap in California schools.
Children at the Center: Strategies for Grade School-Family Partnership
(Pam Brady, Darlene Robles)
Research consistently indicates that when parents and families are involved in a child's education, achievement improves. At the same time, data shows teachers, administrators and parents believe a lack of parent involvement is the central challenge facing our schools. This presentation briefly highlights the key research and surveys. More significantly, proven strategies and best practices for strengthening school-family partnerships and enhancing outreach to parents and families are discussed.
Closing the Achievement Gap by Focusing on What's Best for Children
(Ted Lempert)
California’s significant achievement gap is a threat to millions of today’s students and to our collective future. As Children Now’s 2007 Report Card highlights, far too many of California’s students are not meeting state standards or graduating from high school. What is needed is a child-focused agenda to close the achievement gap. Ted Lempert, President of Children Now, will highlight how this unique approach has the ability to bring together leaders from education, business, ethnic and community-based groups to solve the longstanding problems of inequitable funding, distribution of resources and access to preschool. Mr. Lempert will highlight the consensus that already exists among the public and diverse interest groups and discuss the challenge of overcoming the traditional polarized debate of “more money” versus “more reform.” For more information on Ted Lempert, please visit the “Featured Speakers” page on this Web site.
Community-Based Organization Panel
(Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Jim Keddy, Veronica Melvin, Jay Schenirer)
Hopefully we have learned over time that there is no silver bullet when it comes to education reform and closing the achievement gap. Rather, success requires a multi-pronged, sustained effort that maintains its focus on student achievement. One critical partner that can bring tremendous resources and support sustainability is the community, but what does this mean and how can it be most effective? The directors of the Alliance for a Better Community, the Community Coalition, and People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO) California will provide some insight into these questions.
Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Instruction: Powerful Pedagogy for Advancing Learning in Underachieving Students
(Noma LeMoine)
Educating African American students is one of the greatest challenges facing American educational institutions. The failure of educators to produce literate African American students and other students of color who are capable of success in academic environments may be attributed, in-part, to a systemic failure to leverage cultural and linguistic research and knowledge. Ms. LeMoine helps educators build new schemas for educating underachieving students of color through culturally and linguistically responsive instructional methodology. Learn strategies that build on the language, cognitive styles, and experiences of diverse students to facilitate learning and serve as powerful pedagogy for scaffolding access to rigorous, standards-based curricula.
Defining Measurable Student Outcomes for Parents, Students, and Communities to Take Action
(Julie Mendoza)
This session presents a process and set of guiding questions to use data as a diagnostic tool to improve retention, graduation rates, and student academic achievement in college preparatory curriculum. Dr. Mendoza will discuss the feasibility of developing a coordinated approach to improve student achievement, as evidenced by measurable student outcomes, in Los Angeles. She will detail the importance of building capacity in schools and communities to analyze and use data more effectively, in order to monitor student status toward "on-time" graduation and progress toward completion of A-G coursework. Two years after the Los Angeles Unified School District School Board passed the "A-G for All" policy requiring students to complete a uniform college-prep curriculum to graduate, little is known about the basic A-G course-taking patterns by racial/ethnic group, gender, or language classification in the district. This session includes the lessons learned and critical challenges of moving from policy formulation to implementation. For more information on Dr. Mendoza, please visit the “Featured Speakers” page on this Web site.
Developing Academic Discourse Skills with Adolescent English Learners Through Mediated Discussion and Writing
(Kate Kinsella)
Adolescent English learners approach schooling poorly equipped for the discussion and writing demands of standards-based coursework. This session provides participants with a dynamic instructional process for structuring rigorous and accountable academic discussion as a springboard to relatively brief, routine doses of academic writing practice. Using hands-on demonstration and compelling lesson footage, Dr. Kinsella illustrates the transition from scaffolded “academic talk” to teacher mediated writing of “ten-minute papers.” Participants leave with detailed guidelines, model lessons, and observation protocols to implement this academic discourse strategy school-wide. This is an extended session. Presentation continues into Session Six. Please plan on attending the entire session. For more information on Dr. Kinsella, please visit the “Featured Speakers” page on this Web site.
Gang Involvement Interventions = Achievement
(Hector Molina)
Academic success gives students an opportunity to succeed in today's world, yet many youths will not have that opportunity because of gangs in their schools, homes and community. This timely discussion explores why youths join gangs and the influence they have on their lives and development. Learn about regional trends and signs to watch for in your classrooms, schools, and communities, plus successful intervention strategies that have increased parent and school awareness and reduced gang activity. The session also includes handouts and a CD to educate your colleagues, students and parents when you return from the conference.
How to Survive and Thrive as a Program Improvement District: A District Journey
(Peggy Alexander, Mark Frazier)
The Vacaville Unified School District was identified as a Program Improvement District in April 2005. Since that time, it has implemented many system-wide supports to ensure improvement in student achievement. This presentation outlines the steps they’ve taken, the data that alarmed them, and the progress to date. Panelists will discuss using the District Assessment Survey (DAS) and Academic Program Survey (APS) to improve student achievement, including research behind the APS. Learn practical tips and strategies, a schema of a cycle of inquiry to map and align curriculum, assessment and instruction, and participate in a dynamic discussion of leadership and the change process.
Improving the Educational Functioning of Children with Disabilities in Foster Care
(Elaine MacLeod, Lois Weinberg, Andrea Zetlin)
Learn how teachers, service providers and administrators can improve the academic and social functioning of children in foster care. Our panel of experts will describe emotional/behavioral disorders and the schooling challenges typically experienced by children in the foster care system. They will unveil new evidence-based strategies participants can use to improve educational outcomes.
Meeting the Challenge: How to Accelerate Underserved Students
(Michelle Badovinac, Robin Kisinger)
This interactive presentation describes the role of Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) in successfully preparing low-income, under-represented students for college. The presenters will share data on the AVID program’s successful 27 year track record, including the "A-G" completion rates.
One-to-One Computing: Creating a 21st Century Learning Environment with 100% Student Access
(Ernie Anastos, Darryl LaGrace)
Help middle school students plug into a 21st century learning environment with their own personal computer and free broadband Internet access at home. Our tech gurus will demonstrate how the e-Pad expands learning beyond the regular school day, empowering students to log-on to continue projects, access teacher websites, access textbooks from virtually anywhere and find learning resources aligned with the standards-driven curriculum. Teachers will learn how to create differentiated lessons, access the bank of on-line assessment instruments, and help students accelerate their learning. Find out how parents can plug in too, gaining access to attendance data, grades, and other school and district information. Understanding this approach will help you boost student achievement in reading, attendance and their enthusiasm for learning.
Preschool's Role in Closing the Achievement Gap: Findings from New Research
(Lynn Karoly, David Kirp, Kathleen Reich)
The achievement gap is already present, and significant, by the time California's children reach second grade. But to what extent is the achievement gap apparent from the day that children enter kindergarten? And what is the potential for effective preschool programs to help close the achievement gap in the earliest grades? This workshop will feature new research by two nationally-known scholars, including findings from the RAND California Preschool Study, a major effort to assess the adequacy and efficiency of California's preschool system. The workshop also will examine the rapid growth of state-funded preschool programs around the country and how California fits into a growing national movement for high-quality universal preschool.
Question the Real Authorities
(Bonnie Benard, Dan Sackheim)
Here's your opportunity to hear firsthand from a panel of students with ideas about how educators can work together to close the achievement gap. Panelists from community day schools and other educational options schools will share real learning situations. The students will focus on how schools can, and should, work to close the achievement gap and support student learning and development. The session promises dynamic interaction between the participants and the panel members--an opportunity to dive right in and explore the needs of students.
Resilience Factors for At-Risk Students
(Amy Colcord Stuht, Janie Yuguchi Gates)
Understanding what influences drop-out rates is the key to fostering educational achievement among at-risk students. Two practicing alternative education administrators will share the latest research on risk indicators of potential dropouts, including how high school failure rates are influenced by factors such as poor attendance, family Supplemental Educational Services (SES), and being retained in third, fifth, or eighth grades influence (Jarold, 2006; Alexander et al., 2001; Catterall, 1999). Panelists will also explore why some children who experience these conditions don’t drop out of high school, including high school graduates that cited interventions and other conditions that bolstered their resilience.
State P-16 Council Subcommittee on Expectations
(Robert Hudson, Miguel Cordova)
The Expectations Subcommittee of the statewide P-16 Council will report its findings and tentative draft recommendations.
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Student Wellness: Working to Close the Achievement Gap by Improving Student Health
(Martin Gonzalez)
Student health has a tremendous impact on learning. Creating and sustaining a healthy school environment plays a critical role in providing high quality education to all children. Learn about the latest research suggesting that serious health issues—asthma, obesity, and oral health—affect children at alarmingly disproportionate rates based on race and socio-economic factors. Mr. Gonzalez will describe the impact schools have on raising academic achievement by focusing on student wellness and creating healthy school environments. Discover the link between healthy students and improved learning and achievement and how school governance helps all students achieve at high levels.
Students with Disabilities and the Achievement Gap: Just What Do You Expect?
(Rachel Quenemoen)
This session will include causes, excuses, and solutions for the achievement gap in regards to students with disabilities. The presenter will start with a brief look at the status of students with disabilities in standards-based reform, particularly No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as recent case law. Research that suggests reasons why students with disabilities have not succeeded in grade-level curriculum in the past will also be discussed. The presentation will conclude with what researchers and practitioners have learned about what is required to ensure that students with disabilities achieve at grade level, and research findings. This presentation will focus on system level issues and solutions and will not address specific instructional tools. For more information on Rachel Quenemoen, please visit the “Featured Speakers” page on this Web site.
Taking Center Stage - Act II: Middle Grade Success for All
(Carol Abbott, Rina De Rose Swinscoe)
Taking Center Stage—Act II (TCSII) is an online resource that elaborates on 12 research-based recommendations for effective middle grade programs. TCSII is a California Department of Education (CDE) sponsored project, dedicated to promoting education excellence targeted at middle grades. Using the latest technology, the project is delivered through a free, dynamic Web portal. TCSII contains hyperlinked, research-based content, vignettes of school practices, connections to middle grade organizations, professional learning opportunities, related links, and more. Explore the contents of TCSII and learn how to integrate the project recommendations into your professional development and planning.
Teacher Retention at Low Performing Schools
(Scott Spector)
This session explores strategies for addressing teacher recruitment and creative ways to recruit new teachers at “hard-to-staff” schools. Mr. Spector outlines unique ways to retain teachers and serve underperforming populations. The presentation is directed towards the populations of these 22 priority schools (some 80% Hispanic, some 10-15% African American, 5% other) to attain basic levels of performance. Learn tips for getting the high English Language Learner (ELL) populations involved in the learning process using fun, creative, and standards-based techniques using technology and interaction.