Every child has tremendous potential and it’s important our education system provides a personalized, engaging framework so that students are able to develop their cognitive, emotional, social, and academic skills. Combined, these skills put every learner on a successful path of life-long learning an fulfillment. This session will explore how states can design systems to support the whole child, engage adolescents in their own development, and how “Durable Skills” will provide students with the necessary tools to be successful on their personal pathways throughout life.

Can course access take individualized learning to the next level? There’s no reason why every student shouldn’t be able to access courses and classes beyond their assigned school. Venture into a modern education where virtual learning infrastructure creates course access, closes opportunity gaps, and opens up high-quality learning experiences for all students.

In the past, designing an accountability system that satisfied everyone from parents and policymakers to school leaders and administrators came with unfortunate tradeoffs. But it doesn’t have to be that way! An accountability system can both serve our students and deliver robust information that leads to enhanced student outcomes, holding the key to the future of school accountability. Join this expert panel to learn more.

Moderator:
Aimee Guidera, President, Guidera Strategy

Panelists:
Christy Hovanetz, Senior Policy Fellow, ExcelinEd
Ian Rowe, Resident Advisor, American Enterprise Institute
Terra Wallin, Associate Director for P-12 Accountability and Special Projects, The Education Trust

State education funding flows along fixed, long-established channels—or does it? Join these state leaders for an inside look at bold actions in school finance that are better serving students. From improved formulas to support high-needs students and strategic use of federal stimulus dollars to school incentives aimed at postsecondary readiness, you’ll want to hear how these innovations came about and what new, student-centered ideas lie ahead.

Moderator:
Matthew Joseph, Policy Director for Education Funding, ExcelinEd

Panelists:
Senate President Matt Huffman, Ohio
Commissioner Penny Schwinn, Tennessee DOE
Commissioner Mike Morath, Texas Education Agency

One of the country’s most dynamic industries needs more of the country’s dynamic talent. Building more diverse, creative pathways into the tech industry requires a mix of public investment, policy changes and employer buy-in. Led by Governor Asa Hutchinson, learn how Arkansas created some of the nation’s strongest pathways into the tech sector and how employers and practitioners are transforming the tech sector from middle school to Mountain View.

Moderator:
Stefanie Sanford, Chief of Global Policy and External Relations, College Board

Panelists:
Governor Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas
Dwana Franklin-Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Reboot Representation
Victor Reinoso Director of AFE, Amazon
Jackie Smalls, Chief Programs Officer, Code.org

With new partners, iteach now offers a more holistic approach to recruitment, training, development, and retention. We welcome stakeholders to join the discussion to develop actionable next steps and initiatives to begin addressing the teacher shortage now.

Speaker(s):
Andrew Rozell, President
Alice Rolli, Vice-President

Statewide summative assessments remain an integral component of an equitable, valid, and balanced assessment program. Technology can provide powerful, personalized insights that empower students, parents, and educators and improve student outcomes. This timely session will examine mechanisms state officials can deploy to design and deliver a more purposeful, actionable, and meaningful assessment system.

Speaker(s):
Trent Workman, Senior Vice President, School Assessment, Pearson

Lincoln Network showcases tools that can benefit students and parents in uncovering and accessing educational options and alternatives. Launched in 2020, Schoolahoop is a school discovery app that can help families everywhere find schools that truly meet the needs of their children. Experience the demo and learn how this technology-based solution, coming soon to Texas, Florida and Arizona, can empower families with opportunity in your state.

Speaker(s):
T. Garrett Johnson, Co-founder & Executive Director of Lincoln Network
Brandon Detweiler Head of Product at Lincoln Network
Robert C. Enlow is president and CEO of EdChoice

Research shows that the best start for every student has its foundation in early literacy success. Join Learning Ovations for a lively discussion about what it means for both students AND their teachers to receive a meaningful educational experience and leave with an understanding of how you can bring meaningful impact and meaningful growth in the K-3 literacy space, even within the challenging environment of the modern classroom.

Speaker(s):
Jay Connor, JD, MBA, Founder & CEO of Learning Ovations
Dr. Sarah Siegal, Vice President for Research & Practice

The cost of college has dominated higher education policy discussions, and while affordability matters, it obscures other critical issues around access and value. How can higher education renew its promise as the surest path to opportunity? How can institutions lower costs, improve completion rates, facilitate transfer, and ensure that every student graduates with cutting edge skills? How can higher education drive value for every student? Join us as we seek to answer these questions and more.

Speaker(s):
Dr. Kim Estep, Regional Vice President and WGU Tennessee Chancellor
Chancellor Henry Mack, Florida Department of Education

Join McGraw Hill to preview an intuitive digital tool designed to give educators instructional insights and education content recommendations that are personalized to each student in their class, based on the characteristics of how students learn: their background, cognitive functioning, social-emotional learning, and academic performance. Can these insights and technology solution be valuable to educators?

Speaker(s):
Dr. Shawn Smith, Chief Innovation Officer, McGraw Hill

With an unprecedented disruption of assessment and accountability systems and an influx of federal funding, state leaders have an opportunity to imagine and implement education systems that better support students and educators. Join NWEA in a conversation on how policymakers and educators can use this opportunity to rethink assessment and change accountability.

Speaker(s):
Peyton Rodriguez, Senior Vice President of State Partnerships, NWEA
Katie Carroll, Director of Policy and State Engagement, NWEA

Pandemic-related educational disruptions raised new questions about how and where students are learning and whether that learning environment impacted academic progress. Join Curriculum Associates for a debrief on its Fall 2021 Diagnostic Report and discussion on the recently released i-Ready Diagnostic data that provides insight on how students are performing now that they’re back in the classroom.

Speaker(s):
Dr. Tracy Nicholson, Regional Vice President of Government Relations at Curriculum Associates

State leaders from around the nation are taking note of Mississippi’s amazing growth in student literacy. Join this session to learn how Mississippi used LETRS to provide professional learning to teachers about the science of reading and its contribution to the Mississippi Miracle. Hear directly from colleagues and subject-matter experts about professional development practices that lead to enhanced teaching, improved learning, and better outcomes.

Speaker(s):
Toni Backstrom, Strategic State Solutions Manager, Lexia Learning
Shelby Proebstle, Literacy Manager, Michigan Department of Education
José A. Viana, Senior Education Advisor, Lexia Learning

COVID-19 exposed many of the problems with one-size-fits-all public school systems and fueled momentum for empowering families with educational options. But are there any legitimate arguments against funding students instead of systems? Does school choice “steal money” from public schools, lead to inequities, and harm students? Join AFC Growth Fund’s Corey DeAngelis for a discussion on busting the biggest myths in the school choice debate with evidence and logic.

Speaker(s):
Corey DeAngelis, National Director of Research, AFC Growth Fund

States and districts are leveraging data in new and impactful ways to understand the needs of the whole student — and by doing so, are reimagining personalized learning. We’re seeing, in real time, the benefits of connecting a multitude of data points to distill meaning and drive purposeful action at the school, district, and state levels. Looking at each student as an individual with their own needs, aspirations and challenges enables state and district leaders to address many of the equity goals they’ve been working on for years, to increase buy-in from teachers, to empower local control, and to more efficiently allocate resources.

This roundtable discussion will feature state leaders discussing efforts to harness the power of data to finally see the whole child, understand near-term academic and non-academic needs, and to be prepared for new challenges on the horizon.

Speaker(s):
Anna Edwards, Chief Advocacy Officer, Co-Founder, Whiteboard Advisors
Dr. Courtney Stevens – Vice President of Education Research, PowerSchool
Sarah Singer – Education Solutions Director, PowerSchool