Common Core at the Crossroads

7:30 a.m.   Breakfast

8:00 a.m.  Welcome

  • Maria Voles Ferguson, Center on Education Policy
  • Michael J. Feuer, George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development
  • Caroline Hendrie, Education Writers Association

8:15 a.m.   Ten Takeaways on Where States Stand on Common Core

An intensive survey of state officials by the Center on Education Policy offers insight into the challenges facing states as they implement Common Core State Standards. Topics covered include how states are working with higher education institutions, gearing up for assessments, and preparing teachers and principals for the transition.

  • Maria Voles Ferguson, Center on Education Policy
  • Diane Stark Rentner, Center for Education Policy

9:00 a.m.   Opportunities and Risks – Practical Issues with the Rollout

The political debate about Common Core is ongoing, but other issues are coming to the fore. What are the checks and balances amid the frenzy of products purportedly aligned to the standards? How are states and districts engaging parents? Will colleges accept that high school graduates educated to the standards are college-ready? Our panelists address these and other issues.

  • John Engler, Business Roundtable
  • Lillian M. Lowery, Maryland State Department of Education
  • Michael McShane, American Enterprise Institute
  • Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers
  • Interviewed by Motoko Rich, The New York Times

10:00 a.m.  Session Takeaways and Story Ideas (Cindy Johnston, NPR)

10:15 a.m.  BREAK

10:30 a.m. Putting Common Core in Context – Why It Matters

A key impetus for the Common Core State Standards has been American students’ standing in the world. The authors of two recent books on countries that fare well in international comparisons place the current U.S. initiative in its global context.

  • Amanda Ripley, author and journalist
  • Mark S. Tucker, National Center on Education and Economy
  • Interviewed by Michael Alison Chandler, Washington Post

11:20 a.m.  Session Story Ideas and Takeaways (Liz Willen, The Hechinger Report)

11:30 a.m.  Assessing Common Core – What’s at Stake?

What do officials of the two large-scale testing consortia – Smarter Balanced and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers – see for the future?

  • Jacqueline E. King, Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium
  • Laura McGiffert Slover, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers
  • Interviewed by Lisa Fleisher, Wall Street Journal

12:10 p.m.   Session Story Ideas and Takeaways (Patricia Willens, WNYC)

12:30 p.m.   LUNCH

1:30 p.m.   Lesson on Math

An experienced teacher presents a demonstration math lesson that is aligned to the Common Core State Standards and explains how her instruction has changed under the standards.

  • Stacey Porter, Hite Elementary School, Jefferson County, KY
  • Moderated by Erik W. Robelen, Education Week

2:15 p.m.   Lesson on English Language Arts

A pair of experienced teachers presents a demonstration English lesson that is aligned to the Common Core State Standards and explains how their instruction has changed under the standards.

  • Kasha Hayes, McKinley Technical High School,
  • District of Columbia Public Schools
  • Desiree Raught, McKinley Technical High School,
  • District of Columbia Public Schools
  • Moderated by Sarah Carr, The Hechinger Report

3:00 p.m.   BREAK

3:15 p.m.   Covering Common Core – How I Did the Story

Reporters describe their coverage of Common Core and ways to look at the rollout in lively and interesting ways.

  • Sarah Carr, The Hechinger Report
  • Catherine Gewertz, Education Week
  • John O’Connor, StateImpact Florida
  • Moderated by Toni Konz, Louisville Courier Journal

4:15 p.m. Brainstorming on Story Ideas

  • Caroline Hendrie, Education Writers Association
  • Emily Richmond, Education Writers Association
  • Liz Willen, The Hechinger Report

5:00 p.m.   ADJOURN

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