CALL FOR
SESSION PROPOSALS
California Department of Education
2008 CALIFORNIA TITLE I STATE CONFERENCE
“Addressing the Achievement Gap”
April 21-22, 2008
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel
2025 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA
Proposals due by Tuesday, January 15, 2008
(Extended to Thursday, January 31, 2008)
TITLE I CONFERENCE PURPOSE
In his 2007 State of Education address, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, stated:
"Real, measurable progress has been made since the institution of standards-based education. But, while improvement in our schools has been nearly universal, our across-the-board success has still failed to close an achievement gap that threatens the future of our diverse state. Groups of California children who have traditionally struggled – groups that in many instances make up the fastest growing portion of our society – continue to trail behind their peers, and the gap is not closing. Recognizing this is important. Addressing it is imperative."
Thus, the California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to announce that the theme for the California Title I Conference is “Addressing the Achievement Gap.” This focus shall provide presenters and participants with an opportunity to share successes, discuss challenges, and discover the latest advances in this critical area.
The Conference will be held on Monday, April 2I, and Tuesday, April 22, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. Among the keynote speakers will be Superintendent Jack O’Connell and Roberto Salinas, Executive Director of Superintendent O’Connell’s P-16 Task Force on Closing the Achievement Gap. Informative presentations from a range of presenters are being encouraged through a brief proposal submission process that is described in the information that follows.
WHO SHOULD SUBMIT PROPOSALS?
We know that many Title I schools are having great success increasing student achievement and closing the gap in their communities. The CDE is encouraging current and previous Academic Achievement Award (AAA) awardees and other achieving Title I schools, districts, and counties to submit a session proposal to share your schools experiences, effective practices, programs, and/or educational strategies. Additionally, the CDE invites higher education institutions and research organizations to submit a session proposal on current research and the latest advances in this area.
CONTEXT FOR PROPOSAL
The Title I Conference sessions will focus on current research and research-based practices, programs, and strategies that are working to close the achievement gap. Eight areas, routinely and consistently addressed by effective schools, have been identified as vital to ensuring that all students meet or exceed rigorous state standards. Each area is a conference strand and each session proposal should address one or more of the strands in relationship to closing the achievement gap. Proposals should identify specific topics within the Strand(s) to be addressed. Possible topics are included with the Strands on page 2.
Title I State Conference Strands (with possible topics)
- Curriculum, Instruction, and Academic Support
- Program Improvement
- Instructional Strategies
- Intervention Strategies
- Curriculum Development
- Assessment and Accountability
- Title I Requirements/Regulations
- Use of Assessment Data
- Leadership and Collaboration
- Coordination of Services
- Fiscal Requirements
- Administration of Title I Programs
- Charter School
- Professional Development
- Coaching/Mentoring
- Learning Communities
- Student Assessment Data
- Special Populations and Students with Special Needs
- English Learners
- Even Start and Preschool Programs
- Homeless Students
- Migrant Students
- Neglected or Delinquent Students
- Ethnic Minority Students
- Students with Disabilities and Special Learning Needs
- Student Support
- Services Linked to Classroom
- Health and Wellness Services
- Family and Community Partnerships
- Parent Communications
- Parent Participation
- Community Involvement
- School Environment and Culture
- Culture of Learning
PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES AND EVALUATION
Included in this material you will find a Session Proposal Form which asks to identify a lead presenter; co-presenters; the title of your session; the strand(s) and topic areas being addressed; grade levels and/or audience to be addressed; and a brief summary of your presentation (limited to a half page with normal; Arial; 12pt. font). In addition, you are asked to provide a descriptor (less than 50 words) of the session that would be used in the actual conference program if your proposal is accepted.
Proposals will be judged on:
- Clarity
- Relevancy
- Meaningfulness
Proposals promoting commercial materials, programs, or services will not be accepted. Vendors are not eligible to present sessions.
PRESENTER INFORMATION
Sessions will be scheduled for 90 minutes. A projector and screen will be provided for all sessions. Presenters must furnish all other equipment needed for the session. Please plan to provide at least 40 handouts for each of your sessions. The Conference budget cannot support the costs of duplication.
Presenters may attend the Conference without paying the Conference registration fee on the day of their session only. Meals are not provided. Presenters who plan to stay for the entire Conference must complete a registration form and pay half of the registration fee.
CONFERENCE AUDIENCE
The CDE welcomes and encourages the following groups to attend the conference:
- District and school teams of administrators, teachers, parents, support personnel, and school board members from Title I districts and schools
- District and school teams from Title I Program Improvement (PI) schools
- Administrative and school teams from charter and private schools
- Educators from Indian Education, Migrant Education, English Learner, Neglected or Delinquent, Even Start, Preschool, and Special Education programs
- Supplemental educational service providers
SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Proposals should be submitted on the attached form. Proposals must be received at the CDE by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 15, 2008 (extended to Thursday, January 31). Please send your proposal either by mail, delivery service, e-mail, or fax to:
Howie DeLane, Consultant
Title I Policy and Partnership Office
California Department of Education
I430 N Street, Suite 6308
Sacramento, CA 958I4-5901
E-mail: AAA@cde.ca.gov
FAX: 9I6-3I9-0151
Please Note: The lead presenter will be notified of proposal acceptance or refusal by February 15, 2008. Successful proposals will receive their assigned session date and time slot by February 22, 2008.
