Ready News: January 10, 2020

Reserve Your Spot at the 9th Annual Ready by 21 National Meeting!

Spaces are starting to fill up for the Ready by 21 National Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 15-17, 2020.

Now in its ninth year, the National Meeting brings together more than 650 local, state, and national leaders who, like you, are committed to improving the odds that all children and youth can be ready for college, work, and life. These leaders manage change at all levels – from state policy coordination and community-wide cradle-to-career efforts to out-of-school time systems, single-issue coalitions, and neighborhood-based initiatives.

We hope to see you in Louisville.

Register today!

Letting Young People Lead Their Learning: A Conversation with Ron Berger

Free Webinar
Wednesday, January 22
2:00-3:00 PM EDT

Close your eyes and imagine what an outstanding school looks and sounds like. What comes to mind? Young people collaborating and solving problems together? Or everyone at a desk memorizing facts for an upcoming test?

Please join us as the Forum’s President and CEO Karen Pittman chats with Ron Berger, Chief Academic Officer of EL Education. EL Education was founded on the premise that when students have completed their academic career and enter adult life, they’ll be judged not by performance on basic skills tests but rather, by the quality of their work and the quality of their character. EL Education is transforming the school experience of young people around the nation, at 152 schools in 30 states. This conversation will explore the EL model, its Character Framework, and its 10 founding principles.

For example, at Hollis Innovation Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, students facilitate and take control of their own learning. The young people aren’t seated, but rather are constantly building and creating as they explore new topics and fields of interest.

Watch a brief video on Hollis’ approach to learning.

Register now!

Na’ilah Suad Nasir Featured on the 180 Podcast in a Discussion on Race, Identity, and Equity

Turnaround for Children launched a podcast in the fall, The 180, that features leading voices in American education, health, and child development. The 180 explores how to transform 21st century education – how to turn it around – using 21st century science. The science explaining how children learn and develop is incredibly optimistic about what is possible for each and every child. If applied, it could unleash talent and potential in classrooms everywhere.

In the latest episode, the Spencer Foundation’s Na’ilah Suad Nasir discusses her philosophy and practical steps educators from K-12 and beyond can apply from the science of learning and development to change the way children learn. The intersection where race, identity, equity, and education all meet is where Nasir has dedicated her research, action, and career. She is the author of numerous publications, including “Racialized Identities: Race and Achievement for African-American Youth” and co-editor of “We Dare Say Love: Supporting Achievement in the Educational Life of Black Boys.

Recent episodes featured Pamela Cantor, Todd Rose, Linda Darling-Hammond, and the Forum’s Karen Pittman.

Listen to the conversation.

Building Impact: A Closer Look at Local Cross-Sector Collaborations for Education

Despite a growing interest in cross-sector collaborations, there has been little research on their effectiveness. To fill this gap, the Wallace Foundation recently commissioned Teachers College, Columbia University, to conduct a study examining cross-sector collaborations to improve education. Although they face a number of challenges, “current collaborations show promise for creating a new kind of venue to bring local partners together who often have not cooperated in the past and have even been in conflict,” the authors say. “Importantly, most of the collaborations we studied seem to have helped calm often-contentious urban education politics and establish enough stability for partners to move forward.”

The report is the third and final in a series, presenting findings from comparative case studies of eight such initiatives across the country. Between 2015 and 2017, researchers took an in-depth look at three collaborations-Say Yes Buffalo, Milwaukee Succeeds, and All Hands Raised in Multnomah County, Oregon-and a more limited look at five others (Alignment Nashville, Chatham-Savannah Youth Futures Authority, Northside Achievement Zone in Minneapolis, Oakland Community Schools, and Providence Children and Youth Cabinet). They visited each city one or more times to observe meetings and other activities and interview participants and stakeholders.

Review the report.

Supporting the Well-Being of System-Involved LGBTQ Youth Certificate Program

The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR) at Georgetown University is now accepting applications through February 7, 2020, for the Supporting the Well-Being of System-Involved LGBTQ Youth Certificate Program, which will be held April 20-24, 2020 at Georgetown University. CJJR has partnered again with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Ceres Policy Research to provide a week-long training focused on effective policy and practice reforms that promote positive youth development and take a holistic approach to addressing the needs of LGBTQ youth in child-serving systems. As part of the certificate program, participants will develop and implement a capstone project that applies the learning from the particular training to a local reform effort that is designed to improve outcomes for system-involved LGBTQ youth in their jurisdictions.

Learn more and apply.