Monday, April 28, 2008

The EdSource Forum: BIG VISIONS AND HARD BEALITIES - Videos, podcasts & program slides available

http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001U08oQoi32EmCfl6AVYX5pVUFWN_ScgE0ykfD5ZS-O8S1UX96hXYQpFR9nB54vXjl4fGykzVndF1Vdh8C6aSM_UAK_dVtud8Wtu56NwZlRa8ee59rjF2RjQ==If you missed this exciting event--or were there and want to share it with others--videos, podcasts, and presentation slides are now available online at www.edsource.org.

 

See the April 20th 4LAKids: The Way to San José:

"Big Visions and Hard Realities" was the theme for the 31st annual EdSource Forum held April 18 in Palo Alto. Nearly 400 educators, community members, and policymakers listened with interest as experts grappled with visionary possibilities and tough questions.

If you missed this exciting event--or were there and want to share it with others--videos, podcasts, and presentation slides are now available online at www.edsource.org.

This year's Forum consisted of four fast-paced and thought-provoking sessions introduced by EdSource Board President Davis Campbell.

Jay Pfeiffer from Florida's Department of Education dazzled the audience by describing the kinds of questions that can be answered from a comprehensive and longitudinal statewide education data system. Gavin Payne from the California Department of Education responded by sharing details of a new project to improve the state's data infrastructure. FCMAT's Joel Montero moderated the discussion.

Andrew Calkins of Mass Insight described some bold new ideas that are working in other states to dramatically improve the lowest-performing schools. San Diego County Superintendent of Schools Randolph Ward responded by putting Calkin's ideas into the California context. The conversation was moderated by CCSESA's Susan Burr.

After lunch, Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill gave a sobering summary of the state's current budget crisis and how it will affect education for the next few years as well as some ideas for addressing the problem. Ms. Hill is retiring, and when the session concluded, the audience gave her a standing ovation in tributeto her decades of service to California.

The EdSource Forum ended with a substantive presentation by researchers Michael Kirst and Goodwin Liu of a new reform proposal that would change the basis for how the state funds school districts. School Innovations & Advocacy's Kevin Gordon moderated and the audience heard a provocative response to the proposal by education finance experts Richard Simpson and John Mockler. You don't want to miss the important ideas that were debated.

The proceedings from this event will give you lots to think about and perhaps some inspiration regarding how the state can move forward on several important issues, even in an extraordinarily difficult year.

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