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Aurora 2021 Will Be a Virtual Experience
Annual Call for Presentation Proposals Now Open
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| Aurora Institute President & CEO Susan Patrick announced earlier this week that the Aurora Institute Symposium 2021 will be a virtual experience. The annual call for presentations has officially launched and will remain open until 11:59 p.m. ET on March 26, 2021.
The demand for education systems change is growing, and exponentially so in the wake of massive school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to anywhere, anytime learning models. To that end, we seek proposals that offer lessons from the leading edge of education transformation. Education innovators are invited to submit proposals about ensuring high-quality, powerful personalized learning experiences that are equity-driven and student-centered. All proposals should be founded on the belief that all students can learn at high levels on personalized pathways based on demonstrated mastery rather than seat-time. |
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U.S. Department of Education Issues State Guidance on Assessments This School Year Amid Pandemic
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| K-12 schools must administer annual standardized tests for the 2020-2021 school year, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced in late February, but the agency will offer additional flexibility that balances concerns expressed by a group of diverse stakeholders, including district leaders, teacher unions, parents, advocates, and lawmakers.
The pandemic presents an opportunity for federal, state, and district leaders to rethink the role assessments play at each level to develop personalized learning plans for every student, continuously monitor students’ progress over time, and advance equity. |
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Aurora frequently hosts webinars and convenings with the field’s leading experts to explore trends, tackle pressing problems of practice and policy, and share emerging knowledge from research. The following opportunities to learn and network are open for registration.
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A Strategic Reflection on the Field of Competency-Based Education
March 23, 2021 | 3 PM ET
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| Schools and districts across the United States are realizing the promise of competency-based education—transforming the culture, structure, and pedagogy of the traditional time-based system into one that is designed to help every student succeed. Attend this webinar to hear reflections on the current state of competency-based education. Gain an understanding of developments happening across the field. The presenters will explore areas of growth for the field, identify emerging issues, and provide insights to inform the future direction of competency-based education. We will also invite your reflections on the field.
Presenters:
- Tonya Howell, CBE Social Emotional Integration Specialist, Chicago Public Schools
- Fred Jones, Policy Director, Aurora Institute
- Eliot Levine, Research Director, Aurora Institute
- Susan Patrick, President and CEO, Aurora Institute
- Damarr Smith, Project Manager of CBE, Chicago Public Schools
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Aurora Institute Submits Comments on the E-Rate Expansion
The Aurora Institute Center for Policy submitted comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) public notice on the use of E-Rate funds to support remote learning. Our recommendations centered on the expansion of eligible equipment and services, ensuring cost-effective purchases, and funding and prioritization. |
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New Episode of Innovation Spotlight Episode – Racial Equity in Education Policymaking
Two states—Minnesota and Kentucky—are working on racial equity in public systems to remedy gaps in opportunity and access. Other states have taken noticeable K-12 education measures, too, such as new efforts to diversify the educator workforce and to improve cultural pedagogy and competency. We think we are seeing a trend in education policy proposals, illuminating the power of these tragic moments to capture the moral imagination of our country and jolt it into action. In this episode, Aurora Institute Policy Director Fred Jones talked with Dr. Felicia Cumings Smith, Senior Director, US Regions at National Geographic, and Danyika Leonard, Policy Director of Education Evolving, to unpack the opportunity for more states to examine racial equity in education policy.
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Guide to Submitting a Proposal for the Aurora Institute Symposium 2021
Aurora Institute is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2021 Virtual Aurora Institute Symposium. We’ve created a handy reference guide that contains all the questions you’ll be asked as part of the submission process. We’ve found it helpful to have the questions as a separate downloadable document to help you plan your content offline before placing it in the online submission form. Should you have any questions about the process, please contact Natalie Slocum, strategic partnerships director. |
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| Our Center for Policy leads the multi-stage evolution of policy necessary for the growth of effective student-centered learning models toward the goals of high-quality learning and equity. Our policy priorities are designed to ensure the nation’s education system is fit for purpose and help move states forward from their current state of education to future systems. |
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CompetencyWorks
CompetencyWorks is an online resource dedicated to K-12 competency-based education. Drawing on lessons learned by innovators, we share knowledge through a practice-focused blog, research reports on emerging issues, policy advocacy, and resources curated from across the field. |
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| The Aurora Institute hosts a resource library containing more than 200 materials. Working collaboratively with diverse experts in the field, the Aurora Institute produces reports, books, policy briefs, blog posts, webinars, and related resources on key topics and tough issues that equip and empower educators and leaders to catalyze and scale personalized, next-generation learning models. |
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Aurora Institute
The mission of Aurora Institute is to drive the transformation of education systems and accelerate the advancement of breakthrough policies and practices to ensure high-quality learning for all.
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