What’s churning:
The group charged with revising the state testing system – otherwise known as CSAP – is slated to hold its final meeting today, nearly one year to the day after its first gathering on Oct. 26, 2009. The Assessment Stakeholders Committee is scheduled to meet from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Golden. According to a news release, the meeting is “dedicated to reaching consensus on the final design recommendations.” Here’s the agenda.
But the work is far from over. Next week, State Board of Education members and Commissioner Dwight Jones hold the first of two meetings with the Colorado Commission on Higher Education “to establish a joint vision for the state’s new assessment system, including how best to gauge students’ progression toward postsecondary and workforce readiness.” The second meeting is Nov. 29. Here’s more info.
And that’s not all. Starting Oct. 25, the new assessment plan is going on a ten-city tour. The meetings begin in Lakewood and travel to Boulder, Limon, Cortez, Steamboat Springs and Alamosa before winding up in Pueblo on Nov. 9. All meetings are from 5 to 7 p.m. so members of the public, educator-types and others can come kick the tires and offer feedback. Here’s the schedule.
What’s on tap:
Sometimes Fridays dawn woefully empty for the Churn staff. But not today. In addition to the testing meeting, the State Council on Educator Effectiveness gathers from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Department of Education, 201 E. Colfax Ave. That agenda is here .
And there’s a press conference by Padres & Jovenes Unidos that’s going to include a student-led skit. The advocacy group is celebrating Conflict Resolution Month from 5 to 6 p.m. on the West Steps of the State Capitol. They’re promising lawmakers and others will be on hand to call attention to “the need to end the school to prison pipeline,” an issue that Padres & Jovenes Unidos has fought for years. They worked with The Advancement Project to document the need in Denver Public Schools and then worked with the district to make it better. If you haven’t seen that report, it’s here and worth a look.
Good reads from elsewhere:
- Yes, it works: New study touts benefits of socio-economic school integration.
- Meeting of minds: Duncan, teachers’ unions announce 2011 summit
- Short move?: There’s speculation that Michelle Rhee could end up in New Jersey.