NWEA Spark Community

Not long ago in SPARK I shared thoughts about the role government should play in education. As 2009 came to an end and we began looking forward to 2010 (and reflecting upon the first year of a new administration), I continue to ponder the ways conversations about education have and will evolve. And while we’ve certainly come a long way since the early days of NCLB, I believe it is still a long and challenging road ahead as we continue seeking to improve our education system. Read more

Arne Duncan announces the winners of round 2 Race to the Top and speaks to the transformational changes happening across the country. He believes "the kinds of reform states are putting in place… will change the face of education in this country." Watch the video and discuss what YOU think. Read more

NWEA Researcher, Yun Xiang, just returned from China and has shared her observations on the country's state of education as she asks, "Are kids here lazy or are kids in China crazy? Click into this blog and link to Yun's observations on the Kingsbury Center website. What are your thoughts SPARK Community? Read more

The take-home message on the closing day of Fusion 2010 was one of optimism and encouragement: the nation’s public education system, while troubled in many areas, is fundamentally strong. But Matt Chapman, the president and CEO of Northwest Evaluation Association, said America needs to confront its crisis of confidence about public schools and school teachers. "As a society we need to reconnect to public education,": Chapman said in the final keynote address of the three-day conference. Read more

Today was the day for educators at the Fusion 2010 conference to learn, reflect, and recharge for next year before heading into the relaxing days of summer. A can-do mood permeated the conference even as Portland’s skies turned cloudy.  Dr. Thomas Guskey of the University of Kentucky set the tone early with his plea for educators to lead change, instead of simply managing the status quo. Read more