RILS Conferences

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11th Program: Edward F. Reidy, Jr.
Interactive Lecture Series

Next Generation Assessment and Accountability Systems

Sponsored by
Center for Assessment and WestEd

October 1-2, 2009
Location: Sheraton Harborside Hotel
Portsmouth, NH

Quick Reference

The 11th Annual Reidy Interactive Lecture Series  focusing on Next Generation Assessment and Accountability Systems  will be held October 1-2, 2009 Portsmouth, NH Click here to register

Conference Overview

In an effort to provide states with concrete technical guidelines addressing new forms of assessment, more effective accountability systems, and an increased emphasis on student achievement, the Center for Assessment established the Edward F. Reidy, Jr. Interactive Lecture Series (RILS) in 1999. Each fall the Center for Assessment and WestED bring together educational researchers, policy makers, and practitioners to exchange information and discuss and generate practical recommendations on a timely topic.

The focus of RILS this year is on Next Generation Assessment and Accountability Systems. Our starting point, however, will be consideration of the fundamental goals that those assessment and accountability systems are intended to support through a discussion of Next Generation Education Systems. Only with an understanding of what we expect from public education can we design appropriate assessment and accountability systems that are aligned with those goals. Looking ahead toward an image of where public education should and can be in fifteen years, presenters, panelists, and attendees will discuss the type of assessment and accountability systems necessary to support that education system and the steps needed to begin moving from our current assessment and accountability systems designed to meet the requirements of NCLB to the next generation of assessment and accountability systems.

Conference Format

The format of the RILS is designed to encourage interaction. The conference consists of three half-day plenary sessions. A significant portion of each session is devoted to discussion with audience participation. Each session includes a keynote address, an hour-long panel discussion, and an hour-long facilitated discussion among presenters and audience members. Each panel will include three panelists selected based on their expertise and experiences (e.g., state policy, special populations, technical issues). Panelists will address the issue from their perspective as well as providing reactions to the keynote address.
A new feature of the 2009 conference is background material that will be available prior to the conference. The material is available to audience members as well as to presenters. The goals of preparing the materials are to focus the presentations and to provide a common starting point for the discussions at the conference. Links and/or citations to background materials are provided below.
1. Formative Reform -
This paper was prepared specifically for RILS to provide a context for discussions to be held at the conference. In the paper we provide background and historical information as well as pose some questions about each of the three focus areas for the conference: public education, assessment, and accountability systems.
2. 21st Century Learning Environments -
A white paper prepared by the Partnership for 21st Century skills to provided an overview of research and expert opinion on 21st century learning environments. Provided by Stuart Kahl.

Conference Agenda
Thursday, October 1, 2009
7:30		Registration and Breakfast
8:30		Welcome and introduction to the 2009 Reidy Interactive Lecture Series
			Brian Gong and Stanley Rabinowitz
9:00 - 12:00		Session 1: Public Education Systems
	9:00		Keynote address: Peter McWalters , Former Commissioner
				Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
	9:45	Break
	10:00	Panel presentations moderated by Chris Domaleski, Center for Assessment
				Mike Cohen, Achieve, Inc.
				Stan Jones, National Consortium for College Completion
				Mark Musick, East Tennessee State University
	11:00	Moderated discussion among speakers and audience members
12:00		Lunch
1:00 - 4:00		Session 2: Assessment Systems
	1:00		Keynote address: Stuart Kahl , CEO
				Measured Progress
	1:45	Panel presentations moderated by Stanley Rabinowitz, WestEd
				Harry O'Neil, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California
				Gary Cook, Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER)
				Denny Way, Pearson
	2:45	Break
	3:00	Moderated discussion among speakers and audience members
4:00		Wrap-up of Day 1 and looking ahead to Day 2
			Scott Marion, Center for Assessment
4:30		Recess until Friday morning
Friday, October 2, 2009
7:30		Registration and Breakfast, Informal Discussion Tables
8:30 - 11:30		Session 3: Accountability Systems
	8:30		Keynote address: Eva Baker , Director
				National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, & Student Testing (CRESST), UCLA
	9:15	Panel presentations moderated by Carole Gallagher, WestEd
				William J Erpenbach, WJE Consulting, Ltd
				Robin Taylor, r-squared Educational Consulting, LLC
	10:00	Break
	10:15	Moderated discussion among speakers and audience members
11:30		Closing thoughts and next steps
			Stanley Rabinowitz, WestEd
			Brian Gong, Center for Assessment
12:30		Lunch
1:30		Adjourn RILS 2009

 










 

 

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