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| Terrence Roberts |
The 2013 Alternative Accountability Policy Forum, held on November 15
and 16, drew education leaders from 18 states, the District of Columbia,
and Canada. This annual meeting is the heart of the movement to make
sure our accountability systems effectively help schools serve students
that are behind in credits and schools. The highlight of the meeting
was the presentation from Jim Griffin and Jody Ernst of Momentum
Strategy & Research on the “Measuring Education Quality and
Accountability” initiative. This effort which will give all alternative
schools data to use in explaining the need and value of alternative
accountability measures to the broader community. The project begins
with a survey and will ultimately include robust performance and growth
data to allow all stakeholders to accurately set rigorous yet realistic
and relevant expectations of accountability for schools serving the
at-promise population. Interested readers can participate in the initial survey now.
The event began with a presentation by Little Rock Nine civil rights
leader, Dr. Terry Roberts. Dr. Roberts encouraged the educators who
serve re-engaged dropouts and other “at promise” students to teach
freedom – freedom to learn; freedom to dream; and freedom to achieve.
The event concluded with a message from Congressman Alan Lowenthal (47th
CD) who spoke to the needs of alternative education leaders for an
accountability system that appropriately measures their successes.
Congressman Lowenthal recognized that these are truly bipartisan issues
and offered to work with attendees and their members of Congress to
encourage Secretary Duncan to find solutions for alternative
accountability needs.
In between these presentations, attendees heard from a range of at-promise student educators about states and districts that have adopted alternative accountability policies for at promise students; how school leaders can demonstrate the value of reengaging out of school youth; what schools are doing to provide relevance and social justice for at promise youth; what Common Core tools are available for serving the at promise population; and why districts, universities and state charter school authorizers see alternative accountability as an important goal beyond charter schools. Click here to see agenda.
There was a great mix of presentations and presenters including Delaine Eastin, California’s former Superintendent of Public Instruction; Mala Thakur, National Youth Employment Coalition; Jessica Cardichon, Alliance for Excellent Education; Nelson Smith, former President of the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools; and Caprice Young, founder and former CEO of the California Charter Schools Association. There were also presenters from a number of the nation’s leading schools serving at promise students: High School for Recording Arts; School for Integrated Academics and Technologies; and YouthBuild Charter School of California. Click here to see all the speakers.
Attendees were encouraged to utilize the “tools” that they acquired at the Policy Forum to advocate for their students and schools. Examples of nonpolitical advocacy provided were inviting policy makers for site visits and graduations; providing students with opportunities to work with community based organizations as well as legislative interns. Two particular proposals that have shown great promise for use across the country are the dropout recovery week legislative resolutions developed by the School for Integrated Academics and Technologies in California and the 26 Second project by the High School for Recording Arts in Minnesota.
RAPSA and SIATech plan on continuing this annual event. Readers who would like to get more information or participate in the planning for 2014 are encouraged to send their contact information to: ernie.silva (at) siatech.org.
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| Alan Lowenthal |
In between these presentations, attendees heard from a range of at-promise student educators about states and districts that have adopted alternative accountability policies for at promise students; how school leaders can demonstrate the value of reengaging out of school youth; what schools are doing to provide relevance and social justice for at promise youth; what Common Core tools are available for serving the at promise population; and why districts, universities and state charter school authorizers see alternative accountability as an important goal beyond charter schools. Click here to see agenda.
There was a great mix of presentations and presenters including Delaine Eastin, California’s former Superintendent of Public Instruction; Mala Thakur, National Youth Employment Coalition; Jessica Cardichon, Alliance for Excellent Education; Nelson Smith, former President of the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools; and Caprice Young, founder and former CEO of the California Charter Schools Association. There were also presenters from a number of the nation’s leading schools serving at promise students: High School for Recording Arts; School for Integrated Academics and Technologies; and YouthBuild Charter School of California. Click here to see all the speakers.
Attendees were encouraged to utilize the “tools” that they acquired at the Policy Forum to advocate for their students and schools. Examples of nonpolitical advocacy provided were inviting policy makers for site visits and graduations; providing students with opportunities to work with community based organizations as well as legislative interns. Two particular proposals that have shown great promise for use across the country are the dropout recovery week legislative resolutions developed by the School for Integrated Academics and Technologies in California and the 26 Second project by the High School for Recording Arts in Minnesota.
RAPSA and SIATech plan on continuing this annual event. Readers who would like to get more information or participate in the planning for 2014 are encouraged to send their contact information to: ernie.silva (at) siatech.org.
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