Education
Measures of school quality inform major decisions for parents, educators, and policymakers alike; it is critical that these measures accurately and comprehensively represent a school’s performance. This invite-only conference will equip policymakers, practitioners, funders, and the research community with rigorous evidence on school quality measurement.
The conference will feature researcher- and practitioner-led sessions that highlight the latest research and best practices surrounding measurement of school quality, the role of surveys, communicating multiple measures of quality, and more. This conference will facilitate idea-sharing and collaboration among diverse stakeholders and empower accountability leaders to make evidence-based decisions to transform accountability systems.
For your convenience, we’ve selected a few hotels near MIT that offer comfortable stays in Cambridge. Each option is within easy walking distance or a quick ride to campus. Please see below for the MIT preferred discount codes to use when booking your stay:
1) Boston Marriott Cambridge: MT2
2) The Kendall Hotel: MIT7
3) Hotel Marlowe: 100216750
Take a look at the preliminary agenda below; speakers and other details will be finalized in the coming months.
Registration
2:30 – 3:00pm
Welcome
3:00 – 3:15pm
Blueprint will share the motivation and goals for the conference.
Training: Principles of Causal School Quality Measurement
3:15 – 4:45pm
Blueprint Labs Director Joshua Angrist will share how Blueprint measures school quality, mitigates selection bias, and avoids common pitfalls. Eric Ashton of New York City Public Schools will share a practitioner’s perspective on implementing and communicating causal school quality measurement.
The Current Policy Landscape Surrounding School Quality Measurement
5:00 – 6:00pm
A panel of leading policymakers and practitioners will discuss the current policy landscape, how political realities shape school quality measurement, and how stakeholders can enact lasting positive change.
Dinner
6:00pm
Breakfast
8:00 – 9:00am
Day 2 Welcome
9:00 – 9:15am
Blueprint will summarize learnings from the previous day and preview the upcoming sessions.
Moving Beyond Test Scores: The Role of Surveys and More
9:15 – 10:30am
Blueprint Affiliate Peter Hull will share a recent study that explores the links between school effects on test scores, student survey responses, and long-term student outcomes. Participants will discuss the research in small groups. Christopher Wohn will share how Baltimore City Public Schools use student, family, and teacher surveys to inform their work.
Communicating Multiple Measures of School Quality
11:00am – 12:00pm
This session explores how districts can communicate multiple measures of school quality to diverse stakeholders, featuring case study presentations by Kevin Shallcross of Chicago Public Schools and Pamela Wong of Denver Public Schools. Attendees will then break into small groups to discuss the benefits and challenges of using multiple measures.
Lunch
12:00 – 1:15pm
Involving Communities and Families in School Quality Measurement
1:15 – 2:15pm
Blueprint Affiliate Chris Campos will present recent research that examines how families decide which schools to send their children to and how information and social interactions affect their decisions. Attendees will discuss the implications of the findings in small group discussions.
Closing Plenary: Next Steps and Collaboration Opportunities
2:15 – 2:45pm
Blueprint Executive Director Eryn Heying will share how attendees can build networks for ongoing support and participate in research.
The event is located at MIT Morris and Sophie Chang Bldg E52, 50 Memorial Drive, 6th Floor, Dining Room 6, Cambridge, MA 02142.
We recommend entering through the entrance on Wadsworth Street. Input 30 Wadsworth Street, Cambridge into rideshare or walking directions. Upon arrival, enter the Morris and Sophie Chang Building E52 via the glass doorway with the light-up installation. Take the elevators to the 6th floor. If you enter via Memorial Drive, please also proceed to the elevator bank. When you arrive at the 6th floor, follow the signage to Dining Room 6.
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