Welcome & Overview

Setting the Scene for 2009: Education Policy Agenda & Budget Outlook

This opening session will outline the years key education policy issues at the federal and state levels. Topics will include implementation of the federal stimulus, state budget picture and policy initiatives, No Child Left Behind Act reauthorization, higher education policies, and impact on technology and e-learning.

Panelists:

Lindsay Hunsicker, Senior Education Policy Advisor, Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, Ranking Member Mike Enzi (R-WY)

Mary Kusler, Assistant Director, Government Relations, American Association of School Administrators

Break - Lunch Served

Working Lunch School Improvement and NCLB

Find out how NCLB is driving school improvement priorities, what policy changes are recommended by the nations superintendents, whether recent stimulus funding for school improvement is a harbinger of increased federal support, what are the school improvement practices and trends, and what is the role of technology.

Panelists:

Daniel Domenech, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators

Paul Kimmelman, Senior Advisor, Learning Point Associates

Break

Opportunities to Support Teacher Quality & Professional Development

Much of federal education policy is targeted to improving teacher quality through pre-service education, professional development and ongoing support. This panel will look at key federal policies, national initiatives and state programs. Speakers will answer what are the evolving models and best practices, the role of technology tools and virtual professional communities, and the role of non-traditional providers.

Moderator:

Jennifer House, President, RedRock Reports

Panelists:

Alice Cain, Education Director, Hope Street Group

Nancy Carey, Coordinator of Professional Development, Maryland State Department of Educatio

Kathleen Fulton, Director, National Commission on Teaching and America's Futu

Break

1:1 Business Connections with Education Associations (MWL Room)

Pre-arranged 1:1 speed-dating meetings will maximize attendee companies collaboration opportunities with national education organizations. Strategic partnerships could include publications, sponsorships, conference exhibitions, advertising, etc.

AACC CCSSO ISTE NASBE NCTAF
AASA CoSN NACOL NASDSE NAESP
CEC Educause NSBA NACS SETDA

Higher Education Challenges and Policies: The Implications for Technology and eLearning

Higher education is slowly but surely evolving to meet demographic, budgetary and accountability challenges. Panelists will explore public policy drivers, the move toward performance-based accountability, remediation of incoming students, growing use of instructional software, and the growth of virtual learning.

Moderator:

Farimah Schuerman, Managing Partner, Academic Business Advisors, LLC

Panelists:

Kevin Carey, Policy Director, Education Sector

Jacqueline King, Assistant Vice President, Center for Policy Analysis, American Council on Ed

Anne Moore, Associate VP for Learning Technologies and Directo, Virginia Tech University

State and Local Data Systems: How Policies are Driving Use of Data for Instruction and Accountability

From NCLB testing and accountability to Title I formative assessment to statewide data systems, federal policies are driving the use of data and the demand for data systems. Panelists will outline these federal policy drivers and the resulting local and state practices for both instructional and accountability purposes.

Moderator:

Matt Dawson, Director, Midwest Regional Education Laboratory

Panelists:

Ross Santy, Director of Performance Information Management Ser, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Developm

Nancy Smith, Public Relations Dept., Octel Communications Corp.

Break

Reception with Education Leaders & Keynote: The Obama Administrations Education Agenda for Innovation and 21st Century Learning

President Obama has included education among his top domestic priorities, while U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan arrives with a track record innovation. Before a reception audience of invited education leaders, his senior counselor will outline the Obama Administrations education agenda, provide an update on the federal stimulus, and highlight the role of education technology and public-private partnerships to support innovation and 21st century learning.

Keynote:

Marshall 'Mike' Smith, Senior Counselor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education

Continental Breakfast

Breakfast Keynote: The Move to Rigorous Common Learning and Performance Standards

Created in 1996 by the nation's governors and corporate leaders, Achieve is an independent, bipartisan, non-profit education reform organization based in Washington, D.C. that helps states raise academic standards and graduation requirements, improve assessments and strengthen accountability. Achieve President Mike Cohen will outline key state and national initiatives aimed at developing more rigorous and common curriculum standards and assessments, and help translate this into a roadmap for publishers of instructional resources and educational assessments.

Keynote:

Mike Cohen , President, Achieve

Education Innovation: The Opportunities for Technology, R&D and Public-Private Partnerships

President Obama and Secretary Duncan take office with an agenda based in large part on the promise and potential of education innovation. The ARRA/stimulus bill provides the Secretary with a $650 million innovation fund. This panel will explore both how federal innovation initiatives can support development and implementation of their products and services, as well as how federal policies can help create an educational environment more receptive to innovation. Key topics will include R&D, technology, education entrepreneurship, and public-private partnerships.

Moderator:

Torrance Robinson, Founder & President, eChalk, Inc.

Panelists:

Federick M. Hess, Resident Scholar and Director of Education Policy , American Enterprise Institute (AEI)

Jim Kohlmoos, President, Knowledge Alliance

Douglas Levin, Executive Director, State Educational Technology Directors Association

Sarah Mead, Senior Research Fellow, Education Policy Program, New America Foundation

Break

Assessment & Accountability in the Age of NCLB 2.0

Assessment and accountability are at the heart of NCLB, and are therefore at the center of the debates about NCLB/ESEA reauthorization. Questions include: which subjects to include; how can skills assessment be enhanced; what are multiple measures and should they be used; what is the role of growth models; and how should the process be varied for intervening in schools not making adequate yearly progress be varied; among many others. Panelists will outline the current debate and the likely outcome, as well as the role of technology

Moderator:

David Byer, Senior Manager, Education Leadership & Policy, Apple Inc.

Panelists:

Reginald Felton, Director of Federal Relations, Education Sector

Chris Minnich, Senior Membership Director, Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)

Andrew Rotherham, Co-Founder and Partner, Bellwether Education Partners

Break - Lunch Served (MWL Room)

Working Lunch Keynote (MWL Room)

2009 Congressional Education Agenda and Legislative Priorities

Keynote:

Rush Holt, United States Representative, House Education & Labor Committee

Break

Reading, Literacy & RtI: Where does Federal Policy Go after Reading First

The Reading First program has dominated the federal reading/literacy agenda and the related national debates in recent years. With the U.S. Congress proposing an end to its funding, where does federal policy and funding go from here? And what are the implications at the state and local levels? Panelists will address these questions in the context of NCLB reauthorization and President Obamas call for expanding federal early-childhood education programs.

Moderator:

Melanie Pritchett, Director, Education Policy, CompassLearning

Panelists:

Moira Lenehan-Razzuri , Legislative Assistant, Office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (OH)

Richard Long, Executive Director , National Association of State Title I Directors

Angela Sangeorge, Project Director, The Reading First Technical Assi, RMC Research Corporation

The Outlook for STEM Education

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education have received much recent attention from government, business and education leaders who view our shortcomings in this areas as critical barriers to the nations future ability to innovate and compete globally. Panelists will outline the national STEM education policies, initiatives and program funding and their impact around the country.

Moderator:

Lisa Brady-Gill, Executive Director, Office of Education Policy, Texas Instruments, Inc. - Education & Productivity

Panelists:

Della Cronin, Vice President for Legislative and Pubic Affairs, Washington Partners, LLC

Skip Fennell, Professor of Education;Past President, National Co, McDaniel College

Linda Slakey, Director, Division of Undergraduate Education, National Science Foundation (NSF)

Adjourn