Systemic racial disparities persist at national, state and local levels. Despite federal mandates to improve the achievement of all groups, relatively few educators possess and demonstrate the will, skill, knowledge and/or capacity to engage in, sustain, or deepen effective interracial conversations about the impact of race on student achievement. Providing professional learning opportunities that assist educators in participating in courageous conversations about race quickly leads to more meaningful and productive curriculum, instruction and assessment reform. "Courageous Conversation" heightens educators' awareness of equity and focuses school and district leadership responses towards eliminating the racial achievement gap.

More about Glenn Singleton.

Many teachers readily see a need to work with their students in different ways. One barrier in moving from "thinking about differentiation" to implementing differentiation is uncertainty about how differentiation might look in action. With noted differentiation scholar Carol Ann Tomlinson, participants investigate what it means to create classroom routines that enable teachers to work flexibly with students to maximize the likelihood that each student will grow academically as far and as fast as possible. Looking at both simple and complex classroom routines that support differentiated instruction, this session explores the ways that teachers can think about modifying their current classrooms to make them more effective in supporting achievement for more students.

More about Carol Ann Tomlinson here.

The Forum for Education and Democracy is a public policy think tank working for educational policies at the state and federal levels that are consistent with the work of CES schools. Join Forum conveners in a discussion of The Forum’s national policy paper “Democracy At Risk: A New Federal Role in Supporting our Schools.” At this post-election town hall meeting, Linda Darling-Hammond, Deborah Meier, Carl Glickman, Ted and Nancy Sizer, and George Wood present the ways that national educational policy affects the key issues facing our schools in light of the 2008 election results. Following the initial presentation, Forum and CES staff members facilitate small group discussions during which participants contribute to The Forum's national campaign as they learn about ways to influence state and national policy to strengthen the democratic mission of our public schools.

Fall Forum’s Closing Session brings participants together for a powerful interactive and collaborative finish, building on the messages to the next President created during the Opening Session, and creating opportunities for statements, dialogue, exploration, and reflection during this critical juncture while election results are immediate and fresh.

As educators we have the opportunity to model sustainable practices and to open our students’ minds to possibilities for a sustainable future. Educating for Sustainability enables us to do just that and can and should be done at every level and across the curriculum. Sue Gentile will explain EFS and how we all can bring EFS into our work. She will provide examples of educators and schools working towards sustainability, through their curricula and practices, in hopes of inspiring you to bring EFS to your schools and communities so that you may guide and empower your students to create a sustainable future.

More about Susan Gentile here.