Who Owns These Kids? A New Look at Connecting Middle School Students to Their School
Sue Kaiser, Principal, Sierra Vista Middle School, CA

This session will present the findings from this megastudy which was funded by the National Science Foundation. Focus will be on how to implement the recommendations revealed in this study. A systemic approach to raising achievement and connecting students to school will be shared.

This session will give special attention to the application of the powerful findings from this research. These simple yet profound ideas can be implemented by all schools to promote learning.

Strand: Increasing Academic Achievement
Grade Level: 6–8

Freeze on Program Improvement: Maxwell Elementary School
Mary Gonzales, Principal, Maxwell Elementary, CA; Dr. Frank Rodriguez, Consultant, TESS Consulting Group, CA

Maxwell Elementary has made tremendous growth over the last five years (200+ API points) by undertaking a very structured reform effort, similar in nature to the California Department of Education's process for providing assistance to schools. Participants will hear from administration and teachers how cultural and program changes enabled the staff to begin work on curriculum and instruction that directly affected positive student achievement.

“How does a school accept and work effectively with an external support provider?” This is one of the key questions answered by Dr. Frank Rodriguez from TESS Consulting Group. In addition, participants will receive sample copies of the work the Maxwell staff has done in the areas of quality instruction and curriculum alignment to state content standards.

Maxwell teachers will describe the process by which the school has made continuous improvement an institutionalized effort, including data analysis, grade level collaborations, curriculum mapping, and focused walkthroughs.

Strand: NEW!; Increasing Academic Achievement; VetORC
Grade Level: K–6

Principal Academy
Sue Kaiser, Principal, Sierra Vista Middle School, CA

It is possible to change your school! Learn how Kwis Elementary went from being one of the most challenged schools in the area to being a California Distinguished School. Sue Kaiser will tell you step by step how this change occurred and how you can use a similar methodology to create success in your school. Bring your challenges and your questions, as well as your own success stories to share, and enjoy some time to reflect with your peers about what is possible and how to achieve the results you want in your school.

Strand: Increasing Academic Achievement; VetORC
Grade Level: K–7

Using Data to Improve Instruction: Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement
Dennis Fox, Ph.D. Consultant, LACOE Division for School Improvement, CA

Skillful data-driven decision-making is especially critical in schools and districts with large numbers of children of color, as well as those struggling with poverty and learning English as a second language. This session will provide user-friendly tools for analyzing California Standards Test data in a systematic manner, drawing valid inferences from data, and using the results to improve the effectiveness of classroom instruction and ultimately produce continuous and significant increases in student learning.

Strand: NEW!; Increasing Academic Achievement
Grade Level: K–12

The Hard Work Model for Closing the Achievement Gap
Ken Sorey, Director of Development, Just for the Kids–California, CA

Learn best practices of high-performing schools as they put data and accountability to work. Interact with a panel of high-performing, high-poverty school principals who will share their proven strategies and evidence of success. You will also learn about a free, online resource, Just for the Kids–California, that uses accountability data to help schools raise academic achievement and close achievement gaps through benchmarking, site visits, and best practices from high-performing schools.

Strand: NEW!, Increasing Academic Achievement
Grade Level: K–12