2009 Events

Leveraging Resources to Create Alternative Pathways to Education and Employment Training for Disconnected Youth Comprehensive reform strategies to serve disconnected youth ensure that young people have access to a range of services, including education, employment training, health, and mental health, to move them on a path to self-sufficiency. This event profiled successful efforts at the city-level to leverage a range of funding streams at federal, state, and local levels, private dollars, and resources within the community to create a comprehensive portfolio of options.  Panelists also offered recommendations to the federal government on policies and strategies to leverage resources more effectively to serve disconnected youth.  Panelists included: Jenny Bogoni, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Philadelphia Youth Network (PA), Ernest Dorsey, Youth Opportunity Project Director, Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, City of Baltimore (MD), and Andrew Moore, Senior Fellow, National League of Cities, Institute for Youth, Education & Families (DC). (Forum Brief)

The Means to Grow Up: The Role of Apprenticeship in Preparing All Youth for College and Career Success: Preparing all youth for college and career success is a top priority, and a great deal of attention has been focused on the need for rigorous academic skills to ensure success. However, in order to ensure all youth have the skills to access and succeed not only in postsecondary education but in their careers as well, it is important to consider other types of skills that young people need, including problem-solving, critical thinking, employability, communication, collaboration, and personal responsibility. One way to help young people develop these skills is to provide opportunities outside of school to develop new knowledge and skills, experience real work, and interact with professionals. This forum highlighted how apprenticeships can engage high school students through hands-on learning and unique experiences under the guidance of skilled adults. The forum was based on the new book, The Means to Grow Up: Reinventing Apprenticeship as a Developmental Support in Adolescence, by Robert Halpern, which describes qualitative studies of apprenticeship programs for high school students, and showcased two types of apprenticeship programs in the U.S. Speakers included: Robert Halpern, Professor, Erikson Institute for Graduate Study in Child Development (IL); Darla Burton, Regional Coordinator, Youth Apprenticeship Program, Southwest Wisconsin Consortium (WI);  Diane Postoian, Learning through Interest Partnership Coordinator, The Met Center (A Big Picture School) (RI); and Jinel Brito, 2009 Graduate of The Met School (A Big Picture School) (RI). (Forum Brief) 

State Plans for STEM:  Building Consensus, Designing the Plan, and Aligning Initiatives: This one-hour webinar addressed how two states, Pennsylvania and Minnesota, have developed their state plans for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.  Participants learned:  how all stakeholders can be included in the planning process as states develop their state plans; how STEM was balanced with other state priorities and integrated into an overall education agenda; how partnerships were created and leveraged; and what the resulting plans look like in detail.  Presenters included: Karen Klinzing, Assistant Commissioner, Minesota Department of Education (MN); Joel Donna, STEM Specialist, Minnesota Department of Education (MN); Patrick Riccards, CEO of Exemplar Strategic COmmunications, (PA);and Angela Baber, Senior Policy Analyst, National Governors Association Center on Best Practices, (DC).  (Webinar)     

Rethinking Professional Development: Comprehensive Approaches to Ensuring Effective Teaching: As teacher quality is the number one factor affecting student achievement, improvement in teacher effectiveness is a top federal priority. This forum showcased two comprehensive models that have been implemented in school districts that use continuous professional development that have proven effects on student achievement and the quality of instruction in the classroom.  The Long Beach Unified School District is exemplary in its use of internal resources to improve teacher effectiveness through year-round professional development linked to school improvement strategies. The Urban Teacher Residency program of the Academy for Urban School Leadership in Chicago ensures continuous improvement of teaching through intensive pre-service training, classroom residency, induction coaching, use of student-level data to inform instruction, and mentoring for teachers in urban schools that have been targeted for school turnaround. Speakers at this forum included: Stephanie Hirsch, Executive Director of the National Staff Development Council, (TX); Chris Steinhauser, Superintendent of the Long Beach Unified School District, (CA); and Michael Whitmore, Director of the Teacher Residency Program, Academy for Urban School Leadership, (IL). (Forum Brief) 

Building and Using Longitudinal Data Systems for Effective Reporting and to Improve Student Achievement: This learning exchange was hosted by The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) and the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) and provided state teams an opportunity to learn and share best practices needed to build a high-quality longitudinal data system such as data governance, data quality, and considerations of end user needs. The learning exchange was designed to provide participants an opportunity to hear perspectives from two showcase states, Massachusetts and Kansas, who have excelled at one of the critical elements involved in the building and use of longitudinal data systems. (Field Trip)

Advisory Group for Compendium on College and Career Readiness: A group of respected education leaders met to provide advise to AYPF as it develops a compendium that highlights a variety of school-based and out-of-school models supporting college- and career-readiness, particularly for youth from disadvantaged communities and those who are traditionally underserved by the education system.  The Advisory Group is comprised of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with expertise in secondary school reform, college access efforts, and strategies for closing the achievement gap. This meeting served as a final opportunity to convene the group to review a draft version of the compendium and receive advice and input prior to publication and dissemination. (Advisory Group)

Academic and Support Strategies for College- and Career-Readiness:  This forum was the second in the three-part series entitled “Laying the Groundwork for a College-Going Culture,” focusing on efforts to increase the number of young people who graduate from high school prepared to make informed decisions about continued education and training, and ready to succeed in college and careers. The forum showcased several innovative programs that are helping students be prepared for college and career, including Early College High Schools, Diploma Plus, and the National College Advising Corps. Speakers included: Cecilia Cunningham, Executive Director, Middle College National Consortium (NY); Angela N. Romans, New England Network Manager, Diploma Plus, Commonwealth Corporation(MA); Nicole Farmer Hurd, National College Advising Corps (NC); and Cassandra Castillo, Early College  High School student (NY). (Forum Brief)

Redefining College Readiness: Efforts from Leading States: This forum was the first in the series entitle "Laying the Groundwork for a College-Going Culture" focusing on efforts to ensure more high school students graduate, both understanding their options for continued education and training and ready to succeed in college and careers. Presenters both defined critical indicators for college readiness as supported by the research and described efforts in two states, Arkansas and Indiana, to create statewide high school graduation standards more closely aligned with expectations for success in postsecondary education and work. Speakers included: Dr. David T. Conley, Professor of Educational Policy and Leadership in the College of Education, University of Oregon (OR); Heather Gage, Special Advisor to the Commissioner, Arkansas Department of Education (AR); and Nevin C. Brown, Director Postsecondary Initiative, Achieve (DC). (Forum Brief)

What States Are Doing to Address America’s Dropout Challenge and How Federal Policy Can Help: At this forum, findings from forthcoming policy papers from Jobs for the Future on alternative education and dropout prevention was presented.  In addition, education leaders in two states that have engaged in significant commitments to address the graduation challenge shared their thoughts on how state and federal partners can work together to ensure that every student has the opportunity to graduate high school ready for career and college. Presenters included: Cheryl Almeida and Adria Steinberg, Jobs for the Future (MA); Barbara Knaggs, Associate Commissioner for State Initiatives, Texas Education Agency (TX); and James Witty, Alternative Education Coordinator, Tennessee Department of Education and Executive Secretary of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Alternative Education (TN). (Forum Brief)

Linking Academics, Technology and 21st Century Skills: New Tech High Schools, a Scalable Model for Public Education:  This forum discussed the New Tech High School model focused on project-based learning, innovative uses of technology in the classroom and fostering a strong culture of student responsibility, which has quietly emerged as the most successfully-replicated approach to transforming high school education in the U.S with 42 public schools across nine states.  This approach focuses on preparing students from all types of backgrounds to excel in postsecondary education and the modern workplace through smaller classrooms, cross-disciplinary curricula, increased rigor and real-world experiences.  Furthermore, the model is eminently scalable and can easily be incorporated into existing schools, putting it within reach of traditional public high schools throughout the country.  Speakers included Barry Schuler, Former Chairman and CEO, America Online, Chairman of the Board of Directors, New Technology Foundation (CA); Monica Martinez, COO, New Technology Foundation, VP of Education Strategy, KnowledgeWorks Foundation (OH); and  Ken Kay, President, Partnership for 21st Century Skills (AZ). (Forum Brief)

Citizen Schools: Expanding Learning Opportunities (ELOs) to Prepare Middle School Students for High School Success:  Increasingly, policymakers and practitioners are interested in ELOs for various reasons. The forum, profiled the most current research findings from the Policy Studies Associates (PSA) evaluation of the Citizen Schools (CS) program, an ELO program that prepares middle school students for success in high school and beyond.   Citizen Schools complements classroom learning by engaging students in experiential learning apprenticeship projects led by adult volunteers and supported by a staff of professional educators. Evidence from the evaluation demonstrates that the program is increasing academic engagement and achievement of students in Boston; specifically, former participants selected high-quality high schools at a higher rate than nonparticipants and were more likely to pass their English and math courses; former participants were more likely to pass the high stakes standardized English exam and to score proficient or advanced; and former participants were more likely than matched nonparticipants to be on-track to graduate from high school on time.  Speakers included Eric Schwarz, Founder, President & C.E.O. of Citizen Schools (MA); Elizabeth R. Reisner, Principal with Policy Studies Associates (DC); Juliet Diehl Vile, Research Associate with Policy Studies Associates (DC); and Elena Kennedy, 2nd Year Citizen Schools Teaching Fellow (TX). (Forum Brief)

The Latino Education Crisis: The Consequences of Failed Social Policies: This forum featured Patricia Gándara, Professor of Education at UCLA (CA), presenting an overview of her new book entitled The Latino Education Crisis: The Consequences of Failed Social Policies. The book argues that the education of Latino youth constitutes a critical policy imperative, finding that Latinos are the only group that "has not made significant progress in degree attainment in 30 years." This crisis bears broad social and economic consequences, as Latinos represent the largest and fastest-growing ethnic minority in the country. Gándara identifies a broad web of issues that contribute to low rates of college enrollment and success, and offers policy recommendations. A panel of respondents included Sarita Brown, President, Excelencia in Education, (CA); Michael Casserly, Executive Director, Council of the Great City Schools (DC); and Alejandra Ceja, Professional Staff, House Education and Labor Committee (DC). (Forum Brief)

The Role of Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOs) at Children’s Aid Society Community Schools:  Measurable Results from a 3-year Longitudinal Study:  The Children’s Aid Society (CAS) provides health, mental health, afterschool, parent, Head Start and Early Head Start, weekend and summer programs in 21 New York City community schools.  The findings from a 3-year longitudinal study of ELOs at CAS Community Schools indicated an increase in academic achievement and positive youth development for participants in the program over nonparticipants.  Enrolled participants also had higher attendance rates than nonparticipants. Speakers included Katherine Eckstein, Director of Public Policy at the Children’s Aid Society (NY); Helene Clark, Founder and Director of ActKnowledge (NY); and Marinieves Alba, Community School Director, Mirabal Sisters Campus (NY). (Forum Brief)

Re-engaging Disconnected Youth, Successful Polices and Interventions, Philadelphia, PA:  In collaboration with National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families: This field trip, one of a series of four, supports a project funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to engage municipal leaders in building cross-system collaborations by providing hands-on professional development activities to mayors and superintendents, their staffs, and other local leaders engaged in efforts to reach young people who have dropped out of school, are out of work, or have been involved in the juvenile justice or foster care systems. This project offers local leaders an opportunity to participate in strategically designed and intensive workshops and field trips during which participants engage in substantive policy discussions with their counterparts in other cities and visit exemplary programs. (Field Trip)