Common Core, dropout prevention among AEC topics
Published: September 28, 2012
Did you know CSBA’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show—the premier professional development opportunity for school governance teams coming to San Francisco Nov. 29-Dec. 1—is planned by a committee of local school board members like you?
This year’s volunteers have designed a program with more than 100 sessions covering a wide variety of timely topics. The distinctive orange-covered summer planning guide that was mailed to members last month can help sort out the selections. It’s posted on the AEC website at http://bit.ly/SJsCtB, and other conference planning resources are available online at aec.csba.org to help you get the most out of your conference experience.
With the clock continuing to tick on the timeline for implementing the Common Core State Standards, and dropout prevention a perennial concern, those two topics offer good examples of how AEC’s variety of sessions can offer fresh insights from multiple perspectives.
Common Core
Among the opening day offerings on Thursday, Nov. 29, will be “Common Core State Standards: Professional Learning and Instructional Resources.” California Department of Education division directors Thomas Adams and Phil Lafontaine, with Barbara Murchison of CDE’s Common Core Integrated Action Team, will brief participants on the most current implementation details, including information about aligned instructional resources and professional learning opportunities.
The next day, “Common Core Implementation: Effective Resource Coordination and Optimization” will cover how to identify and define core programs and allocate resources. Panelists include Jannelle Kubinec and Ann Hern, two knowledgeable sources from WestEd, the joint powers agency active in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and beyond; San Juan Unified School District Superintendent Glynn Thompson; and CSBA Governance Director Christopher Maricle.
Dropout prevention
Russell Rumberger, director of the California Dropout Research Project, will lead a special group of sessions on “Dropout Prevention: Solutions to Halt the Epidemic” on AEC’s second day. After an introductory overview, participants will discuss strategies for taking action in four focus groups concentrating on student subgroups, each illustrated by successful education models—how English learners, for example, can increase graduation rates. The group focused on black students will look at the reality behind dropout statistics; The East Bay Asian Youth Center will showcase its support systems for under-served students and families, and the Butte County Office of Education will discuss how partnerships have helped support Native American students.