The MIT School Access and Quality Fellowship Kickoff is the first event in a one-year program for education leaders currently researching, implementing, and/or expanding enrollment reform. Sessions will cover equity, use of enrollment data, inclusion of early childhood education (ECE) in unified enrollment systems, community engagement, and more. Presenters from around the country will bring both policy and research expertise. This interactive event will also provide Fellows with an opportunity to discuss current policies and their goals for the future, building a foundation for a strong community moving ahead.
Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00 am Eastern
E52-324, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139
Arrive early to grab breakfast and chat with other fellows.
Welcome Remarks and Kickoff Overview
9:00 - 9:15 am Eastern
E52-324, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 (or Zoom)
This session will provide background on Blueprint Labs and an overview of the fellowship’s objectives.
Introductions
9:15 - 9:45 am Eastern
E52-324 and E53-310, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 (or Zoom)
Through brief, guided introductions, fellows will get a chance to introduce themselves and share their goals for the program.
What is Unified Enrollment?
9:45 - 10:15 am Eastern
E52-324, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 (or Zoom)
This interactive session is intended to help build a shared understanding of enrollment reform, the values driving unified enrollment, and the necessary factors for implementation.
Addressing Equity in New York City
10:15 - 11:15 am Eastern
E52-324, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 (or Zoom)
This session will explore equity initiatives and research in New York City (NYC) from various levels. Clemence Idoux (UPenn) will open with her research on how changes in admissions policies impact students' application behavior and school segregation. Next, Daniel Hildreth (NYCDOE) with share an overview of changes in admissions policies for gifted and talented programs in NYC over the last several years. Lastly, Anthony Harrison (NYCDOE) will discuss how the NYCDOE is supporting special populations, at both the family and systems level.
NYCDOE
Break
11:15 - 11:25 am Eastern
10-minute break between sessions
Using Enrollment Data to Drive Decision Making
11:25 am - 12:25 pm Eastern
E52-324, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 (or Zoom)
This session will highlight several different ways that practitioners and researchers are using data to drive decision making. Dave Hand (NOLA Public Schools) will discuss how New Orleans Public Schools is using enrollment data for their portfolio modeling. Jodie Newbery (Los Angeles Unified) will highlight LAUSD’s efforts in this space. Parag Pathak will close the session with his research on using enrollment data to predict the likelihood of school admissions and equity implications of this work.
Los Angeles Unified School District
Lunch
12:25 - 1:05 pm Eastern
MIT Buildings E52-324, E52-314, and outside
Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees.
Case Consultancy
1:05 - 1:30 pm Eastern
E52-324, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 (or Zoom)
Jay Freistadt will lead a short case consultancy that examines Seattle Public Schools's re-zoning and pushback from well-resourced communities. Fellows will break into small groups to discuss approaches to this challenge.
Engaging Community to Foster Equitable Enrollment
1:30 - 2:30 pm Eastern
E52-324, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 (or Zoom)
Niloufar Salehi (UC Berkeley) will present her research on community centered algorithm design in San Francisco, followed by a Q&A. Alicia Lombrana and Justin Smith (Yes Prep) will share how their charter network in Houston approaches community engagement, and Cesar Dominguez (Tulsa Public Schools) will discuss how his district increased application rates of the hardest-to-reach population.
Buddy Matching
2:30 - 2:55 pm Eastern
E52-324, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 (or Zoom)
Fellows will be placed into groups of 2-3, based on their goals for the coming year.
Inclusion of Early Childhood Education in Enrollment Systems
2:55 - 3:55 pm Eastern
E52-324, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 (or Zoom)
Integrating Early Childhood Education (ECE) into Unified Enrollment systems presents unique challenges. This session will feature perspectives from both a mature ECE UE system and a system about to launch. Rebecca Latham (New Orleans Public Schools) will share lessons learned from NOLA’s mature ECE UE system. Lindsay Weixler (Tulane) will share with findings from a study that aimed to increase application rates through text message interventions. Sean Perkins (City of Philadelphia) will discuss his plans for launching an ECE UE system in Philadelphia and ways he is working to build consensus among diverse stakeholders. All three presenters will join a panel on best practices to integrate ECE into enrollment systems.
Tulane
Kickoff Closing
3:55 - 4:00 PM ET
E52-324, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 (or Zoom)
Reception
4:00 - 5:00 pm Eastern
Za, 350 Third St, Cambridge, MA 02142
All attendees must be up to date with Covid-19 vaccinations (or have an exemption), per MIT Tim Ticket policy. Face coverings are optional for all attendees of indoor events.
All fellows and speakers are eligible for travel reimbursement. Please view MIT hotel discounts here. Please contact contact@mitblueprintlabs.org if you have any questions about the required forms/process.
The Kickoff will be held on MIT’s campus in Cambridge, MA in the Morris and Sophie Chang Building (50 Memorial Drive, Bldg E52, Cambridge, MA 02142) on the third floor. Please note there are two doors to enter from: 50 Memorial Drive and 30 Wadsworth Street. Scan your Tim Ticket to enter, take the elevators to the third floor, and the event is to the left. An MIT Campus Map is also available.
Arriving by train: Take the Red Line branch of the “T” to the Kendall/MIT stop. Head to 50 Memorial Drive by following a map (see above).
Arriving by car: Parking near MIT can be difficult! Please plan ahead. The closest parking garage is located at One Broadway.
Arriving by rideshare: If taking Uber/Lyft to the event, please input 30 Wadsworth Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 as your destination. Memorial Drive is not always safe for cars to stop. You will enter through Bldg E52, the Morris and Sophie Chang Building.
Every in-person attendee must use the Tim Tickets system to attend the MIT SAQ Kickoff on October 21, 2022. Tim Tickets grant building access and provide MIT Medical with necessary information for contact tracing. Learn more here.
Any time prior to October 21st: Register and Get the App
1. Register for Tim Tickets here (Note: you must use this link to register).
2. Download the MIT Tim Tickets mobile app, available for iOS 13+and Android 7+.
3. Once you log in, you should see a ticket that says, “Blueprint Labs SAQ Kickoff.” Contact us if you do not see this ticket.
On October 21: Submit your Attestation and Scan
1. Open your MIT Tim Tickets app and submit your attestation before you arrive at the Kickoff. The attestation is only available to complete 24 hours before the start of the event. It’s critical that you complete the attestation at least 30 minutes before you arrive to campus or you will be delayed in entering the building.
2. When you arrive, open your MIT Tim Tickets app and scan your QR code to open the door. The QR code scanner is labeled for Tim Tickets and features a cartoon beaver.
3. Head to the third floor in the elevators and follow the signs to the Kickoff!
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