On March 27, Education Sector held a panel discussion to discuss the challenges facing states as we head towards 2014. Between now and 2014, states will be facing the challenges of new Common Core standards, new assessments, new accountability systems, new teacher evaluations, new data systems, and for some states, implementing Race to the Top. At the same time, they will be expected to expand online learning and provide increasing levels of choice.
Making this many simultaneous changes would be a challenge even without the possibility that some of these reforms may be in conflict with one another. Yet there have been few efforts to look across the spectrum to see where these reforms may collide . . . or where there could be unexpected synergies.
At the live event held at the National Press Club, the panel was asked to consider how all of these reforms will look when implemented at the same time. Panelists included Michael Cohen of Achieve; Tom Luna, President of the CCSSO; Allan Odden, Co-director of CPRE; Elena Silva of Education Sector (moderator); Robin Steans, Executive Director of Advance Illinois; and Joel Vargas, Vice President of High School Through College, Jobs for the Future.
The participating experts did not make right-and-wrong judgments about individual policy decisions. Rather, they looked at the challenges and choices for policymakers to navigate between now and 2014. Already states are grappling with and managing these dilemmas and the trade-offs that naturally follow.
To view a recording of the event and download materials, please visit http://www.educationsector.org/events/getting-2014-choices-and-challenges-ahead
