NCREL/Learning Point Associates An Overview of State Policy Network Activities, 1998–2003

State Date of Type of Title Brief Summary Participants Collaborators Activity Activity September Taskforce “ Meeting held to discuss barriers Taskforce Hosted by NCREL 26, 2002 Meeting Assessment to high-quality student members Taskforce” assessment in Illinois and to align future plans with NCLB requirements. July 22, Meeting “Governor’s The keynote speaker for this Sponsored by 2002 Council on event was Tom Carroll, Director NCREL Educator of the National Commission on Quality” Teaching and America’s Future. March 16, Meeting “Creating High- This forum intended to provide Superintendents, NCREL, Wallace- 2001 Quality participants with an in-depth look principals, staff Reader’s Digest Professional at the quality professional developers, and Fund, Office of the Development at development practices in several other education Governor, and the the State and local schools with specific stakeholders Education Local Levels” emphasis on opportunity and Commission of the barriers. States

ILLINOIS June 23, Meeting “Title II Report This meeting included discussion A variety of NCREL’s State 2000 Requirements about current and future education Policy Forum and Illinois opportunities to further the stakeholders (composed of the Teacher Quality creation of a state teacher quality Chairs of the House Initiatives” agenda. and Senate Education Committees, the Deputy Governor for Education, the State Superintendents, and the President of the Illinois Board of Higher Education) and the Education

NCREL Office of Policy and Networks 1 February 2004 NCREL/Learning Point Associates An Overview of State Policy Network Activities, 1998–2003

Commission of the States February Seminar that “What’s New in Attendees came together to State legislators, NCREL, the Illinois 16, 1999 lead to the Region – discuss and propose changes to superintendents, State Board of proposed Charter the original charter legislation and members of Education, and the legislation Schools” that provided for 45 charter key education Leadership for schools. Following the seminar, organizations Quality Education taking the proposed changes, the Illinois State Board of Education drafted a bill that was sponsored by Senator O’Malley and introduced as Senate Bill 648. May 3–4, Conferences “Illinois Social Two local meetings on social School Center on Education 1999 Promotion promotion and retention intended superintendents, Policy and NCREL, Conferences” to (1) assist school teachers, with funding from the superintendents, teachers, and administers and Joyce Foundation parents in dealing with the parents from the pressures of ending social southern and promotion in Illinois, and (2) give western suburbs participants an opportunity to of Chicago voice their opinions and provide suggestions to local and federal legislators on the current debate surrounding social promotion. November Community “Illinois PTA One in 10 community forums Community Organized under the 17, 1998 Forum in Education held in the fall of 1998 to solicit representatives, auspices of the Chicago Community the views of citizens on the including Illinois PTA and the districts 25 Forum” condition of public education and business/organ­ Center on Education and 20 to assess whether new state izations, clergy, Policy. The Joyce legislation will lead to an media, private Foundation provided improvement in schools. and public funding and NCREL educators, provided staff legislators, and support.

NCREL Office of Policy and Networks 2 February 2004 NCREL/Learning Point Associates An Overview of State Policy Network Activities, 1998–2003

other citizens March 18, Online “A Framework A framework that describes every Prepared by the 1998 Resource for Examining stage in a teacher’s career, Education State Policy including barriers, bridges, state Commission of the Options to law, sample action strategies, States and NCREL Enhance the and political actions. for the Illinois State Quality of the Policy Forum. Teaching Profession in Illinois”

State Date of Type of Title Brief Summary Participants Collaborators Activity Activity November Regional Discussion of interim findings of , Illinois, NCREL and the 20, 2001 Meeting Phase II of NCREL’s research on Ohio, Indiana Education teacher supply and demand in the Minnesota, and Policy Center Midwest. The Indiana Education Wisconsin Policy Center presented preliminary findings for Indiana regarding teacher mobility in the first five years of teaching. Additional states that participated in the meeting were Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

NCREL Office of Policy and Networks 3 February 2004 NCREL/Learning Point Associates An Overview of State Policy Network Activities, 1998–2003

December Symposia “Issues and The second of two symposiums to Teachers, NCREL, Indiana 15, 2000 Strategies for address the changing administrators, Department of Public K–3 Literacy in demographics in Indiana that have and Education, Education Indiana and caused an increase in the English- policymakers Commission of the English as a language-learning population. States, and Indiana Second Participants reviewed Indiana’s Education Policy Language early literacy efforts, assessed Center (ESL)” what impact they have had, and determined where those efforts are heading in the future. November Symposia “Effective The first of two symposiums to Educators, NCREL, Indiana 28, 2000 Professional discuss the impact and superintendents, Department of Public Development implications of professional and Education, Education Strategies and development, particularly as it policymakers Commission of the Policy Options” relates to Indiana Public Law 221. States, and Indiana Participants discussed the Education Policy background leading up to the Center passage of the law, the future of professional development policy in Indiana, and the link to higher standards and accountability. October 8, Meeting “Effectively This meeting included Legislators, NCREL, Indiana 1998 Using presentations and discussions educators, state Education Policy Technology in about the challenges and and local board Council, Indiana Indiana’s opportunities for Indiana’s officials, the Department of Classrooms: development and implementation Governor’s Education, and the Implications for of its State Technology Plan. office, and the Education Commission the State’s Indiana of the States Technology Education Plan” Technology Council (ETC)

NCREL Office of Policy and Networks 4 February 2004 NCREL/Learning Point Associates An Overview of State Policy Network Activities, 1998–2003

State Date of Type of Title Brief Summary Participants Collaborators Activity Activity December Policy “Emerging Policy: This meeting served as a forum Members of the Learning Point 18, 2003 Forum Routes to to discuss the emerging policy House and Associates Preparation and issue of the preparation and Senate, the Licensure of licensure of teachers. Governor’s Teachers” Presentations included an Office, Iowa overview of alternative Department of certification, alternative paths to Education, the teacher certification, the early State Board of developments of alternative Education, and education licensure, the other state Residency in Teacher Education education policy (RITE) program, and information leaders about the Teachers College at Western Governors Association. January Seminar “Teacher This seminar was designed to Legislators, NCREL and the Iowa IOWA 10, 2001 Evaluation and inform legislators and gain their lobbyists, and Department of Compensation feedback on the key components Iowa U.S. Education Seminar” of the teacher quality proposals. Department of Education staff December Policy “Conditions of The purpose of the meeting was Key leaders in NCREL, the National 20, 1999 Forum Education in to provide an opportunity for business, Governors’ Iowa” Iowa leaders to seek common government, Association, and the ground and discuss ways to and education Education Commission bring research and analysis to of the States bear on the policymaking process. Major topics of discussion were early childhood education and early literacy.

NCREL Office of Policy and Networks 5 February 2004 NCREL/Learning Point Associates An Overview of State Policy Network Activities, 1998–2003

State Date of Type of Title Brief Summary Participants Collaborators Activity Activity December Education “Policies and At this meeting, participants were Members of the Learning Point 9, 2003 Policy Programs to able to (1) hear from education House Associates Forum Support experts about what is necessary and Senate, the Michigan’s to turn low-performing schools Governor’s Highest Priority into high-performing learning office, the State Schools” communities; (2) highlight Superintendent’s actions being taken in Michigan office, Michigan to assist highest-priority schools Department of and (3) determine additional Education and actions and possible next steps other state for stakeholders to address fully education policy the needs of highest-priority leaders schools in Michigan. November Policy “Turning Around Cohosted by NCREL 8, 2001 Seminar Low-Performing and the Policy Center Schools” at Michigan State University MICHIGAN April 17– Networks “Using Resources This meeting offered participants Representatives NCREL 18, 2000 Meeting to Improve the opportunity to draw upon from NCREL, Student Learning” their collective experiences with the Michigan NCREL, identify strategies to Department of help facilitate the most effective Education, and use of NCREL’s products and various services, and suggest additional Michigan-based avenues NCREL might take to members of meet the needs of the Michigan NCREL’s educational community at large. networks April 17, Education “Issues in A discussion about the various Members of the NCREL, the Education 2000 Policy Improving and strategies and practices aimed at House and Commission of the Forum Rewarding improving and rewarding teacher Senate, the States, and the

NCREL Office of Policy and Networks 6 February 2004 NCREL/Learning Point Associates An Overview of State Policy Network Activities, 1998–2003

Teacher effectiveness, including Governor’s Michigan State Policy Effectiveness” presentations about the office, the State Network Tennessee method to evaluate Board of teacher effectiveness and Education, and alternative compensation and other education reward practices. leaders in Michigan June 21, Forum “Special This forum aimed at addressing Members of the The Michigan State 1999 Education, issues relative to special House and Policy Network, via Assessment and education, assessment, and the Senate, the NCREL and the School Facilities funding of school facilities. Governor’s Education Commission Funding: Office, the State of the States Implications and Board of Alternatives for Education, and Michigan other education Schools” leaders August White “An Advance Set This white paper, prepared for NCREL 1998 Paper of Critical Issues the Michigan Policy Network, on Special looked at three critical special Education education issues that Michigan Funding” policymakers will face in the upcoming legislative session (1999).

NCREL Office of Policy and Networks 7 February 2004 NCREL/Learning Point Associates An Overview of State Policy Network Activities, 1998–2003

State Date of Type of Title Brief Summary Participants Collaborators Activity Activity September Conference “Charter Schools: This working conference All individuals NCREL and the 24–25, Developing Policy presented cutting-edge active in and Minnesota Department 1998 and Practice,” information about charter schools knowledgeable of Education Region VI Charter and provided an opportunity for about the Schools participants to shape a resource charter schools Conference guide for school staff, districts, movement state-level personnel, members of the public, and policymakers. December Policy “Teacher Quality This forum was designed to Regional policy Office of the Governor 1, 2000 Forum Policy Forum” address critical issues of teacher leaders and the Education

MINNESOTA quality as they affect the state of Commission of the Minnesota, including teacher States rewards, career paths for teachers, professional development, hard-to-staff schools, and licensing.

NCREL Office of Policy and Networks 8 February 2004 NCREL/Learning Point Associates An Overview of State Policy Network Activities, 1998–2003

State Date of Type of Title Brief Summary Participants Collaborators Activity Activity March 10, Policy “State Board The meeting brought together State Sponsored by NCREL 2003 Meeting Budget Requests education stakeholders to legislators, and discuss issues of Ohio’s current State Board of Accountability budget situation for 2003–04. Education, and Issues” Ohio Department of Education January Meeting “How, When, This meeting provided a forum State legislators Sponsored by NCREL 15, 2003 Where, and Why to discuss issues of education and Ohio Ohio Education spending and updates to NCLB. Department of Dollars are Spent Education and an Update on affiliates NCLB” February Legislative “2002 Ohio The workshop allowed State legislators Supported by NCREL 13, 2002 Workshop Legislative legislators to discuss important and the Ohio Workshop” and emerging educational Department of issues facing Ohio. Education January Workshops “2001 Ohio This workshop sought to Ohio legislators NCREL and the Ohio 16–17, Legislative highlight the most critical and staffers Department of 2001 Workshops” education issues facing Ohio Education and the new legislature, including school reform options, funding, and assessment November Presentation “A Framework for NCREL presented its analysis of The Governor, 21, 2000 at Examining State the Ohio accountability policy at State Conference Policy Options to a conference on school Superintendent, Enhance accountability sponsored by the legislators, local Education Education Commission of the interest groups, Accountability in States and the Ohio State Policy and education Ohio” Network. groups

NCREL Office of Policy and Networks 9 February 2004 NCREL/Learning Point Associates An Overview of State Policy Network Activities, 1998–2003

September Policy “The Ohio TIMSS This working policy seminar was NCREL 9–10, 1998 Seminar Forum” called in response to the findings of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) and its relationship to the Ohio State Board of Education’s shift to a performance-base system of accountability.

NCREL Office of Policy and Networks 10 February 2004 NCREL/Learning Point Associates An Overview of State Policy Network Activities, 1998–2003

State Date of Type of Title Brief Summary Participants Collaborators Activity Activity January Policy “Sustaining Rural school and community State Learning Point 29–30, Meeting Wisconsin’s Rural stakeholders met with the legislators, Associates and the 2003 Schools and the Wisconsin State Superintendent leaders of Wisconsin Department Communities they and Department of Public community- of Public Instruction Serve” Instruction staff to establish a based policy agenda to sustain programs, and Wisconsin’s rural schools and the Wisconsin communities they serve. Department of Public Instruction October 3, Network “Virtual Schools This meeting served as a forum A variety of NCREL and the 2000 Meeting Policy Seminar” to address a small number of education Wisconsin Department important policy issues around stakeholders of Public Instruction virtual schools. and WISCONSIN organizations, the Governor’s office, school districts, higher education representatives, and Senate Education committee

NCREL Office of Policy and Networks 11 February 2004