Program
Below is the tentative schedule for this year’s Prepárate conference. Join us to network, learn and collaborate so that we can all help Latino students find success today and in the future. Session information will be added as the schedule is finalized. Follow us now to receive updates: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn
Also Join Us for A Dream Deferred™: The Future of African American Education
A Dream Deferred is being held on May 2–3 following and in conjunction with Prepárate, including joint sessions and networking opportunities. Attend both events and expand your knowledge base so you can contribute even more to your students and community.
For more information, visit the website for A Dream Deferred.
2013 Prepárate and A Dream Deferred Program Book
View the latest Prepárate and A Dream Deferred Program Book.
2013 Prepárate Schedule
Please note the date of Prepárate has changed and is now May 1–2, 2013.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
7:00am - 5:00pm
Registration
8:00am - 8:50am
Continental Breakfast
9:00am - 10:20am
Welcome Plenary: What It Takes — Increasing College- and Career-Ready Latinos
A cornerstone for a successful life begins at home, but it continues through someone’s educational journey and career path. Hilda Solis, former secretary of labor, will share her powerful story and how education transformed her life and led her to become a passionate advocate for Latino education and career success. From her days at the California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) to her latest role in the White House, education has been a top priority since it continues to be an equalizer for underserved communities. Secretary Solis will inspire us and set the stage for an important dialogue about how to increase the number of college- and career-ready Latinos.
Speaker(s):Solis, Hilda U.S. Department of Labor
10:30am - 11:30am
The Community School Initiative: Fostering Local Partnerships that Support Latino Student Success
The community school model is a proven academic turnaround strategy, as well as a meaningful approach for serving and supporting Latino students and their families. The commitment of partner organizations like Oasis College Connection has notably increased college access initiatives for Latino students. Session participants will learn how the community schools model is a logical and culturally appropriate service delivery approach for Latino students, and they will examine the key components of a successful community school strategy. Participants will analyze a successful community school model, examine innovative techniques for engaging Latino students and begin an action plan for strengthening partnerships that increase college access opportunities for Latino students.
Speaker(s):
Sehring, Molly Glencliff High School
Houston, Ellen Oasis College Connection
Marching Forward: Veterans, CLEP and Latino Success
This presentation will be PowerPoint driven (Q&A encouraged) with the assistance of handouts showing the data compiled from CLEP® studies at North Lake College. Participants in this session will learn how students who earn college credit via CLEP are more likely to persist through college, thereby creating higher retention rates for their schools. A compare/contrast style of delivery will be used to show how returning veterans, as well as students with Spanish language skills, use their knowledge on the CLEP exam to achieve college credit before they ever enroll at North Lake College. Participants will also analyze how CLEP burnishes self-esteem and academic achievement, with this success leading to higher retention rates and increased persistence in the college environment.
Speaker(s):Seaver, Kent North Lake College
Prepárate Concurrent Sessions
Reaching Underrepresented Populations through Community Collaboration
Identifying, connecting and effectively collaborating with school counselors and community organizations that work with underrepresented populations are critical ways to assist students who are preparing to make the transition from high school to college. The presenter will discuss proven methods on how to do so and will examine successful efforts on how to work with community-based organizations and school districts to prepare minority youth for college. Participants will develop skills to increase collaboration with neighboring community organizations, professional associations and school counselors. They will analyze the importance and results of connecting with surrounding schools, community organizations and associations.
Speaker(s):Silva, Adriana St. Joseph’s College
Overcoming Barriers to Ensure College Readiness
Bridgeport High School in Washington S tate has developed a model for successfully increasing expectations and rigor in high-poverty areas with a large number of minority students. During this session with representatives from Bridgeport, participants will examine the development of successful “college in the high school” programs — programs that allow students to enroll in college courses in high school after passing local community college entrance exams. Participants will develop practical strategies for cultivating a college-going culture and will share strategies for setting and achieving student goals, regardless of socioeconomic or racial barriers.
Speaker(s):
Jackson, Jeffrey Bridgeport High School
Jackson, Tamra Bridgeport High School
Outreach to Latino Parents: Engaging Latino Families in the College-Going Process
To increase access and college enrollment for Latinos, Goshen College created an outreach model that is focused on developing trusting relationships with parents and disseminating information about college preparation and enrollment. The session feature research and best practices on the most effective outreach for Latino families who want to send their children to college. Based on the knowledge they acquire in the session, participants will be able to construct a basic logic model to guide outreach efforts and acquire at least one idea for implementing assessment. A logic model handout will be provided.
Speaker(s):
Diaz, Rocio Goshen College
Rivera, Savino Goshen College
Kimberly, Case Goshen College
Help students interested in STEM majors stand out to colleges with SAT Subject Tests
This session will focus on how SAT Subject Tests™ in mathematics and in science can help students interested in STEM majors demonstrate their mastery to prospective colleges and universities. A panel of practitioners will discuss ways in which these tests can benefit students on the path to college, as well as best practices for advising and preparing students for these tests. The session will be interactive and highly engaging, allowing for audience participation throughout. Participants will learn about the SAT Subject Tests and how they’re used in the college admission and enrollment processes. They will also develop specific knowledge of the specific topics covered on the SAT Subject Tests.
Speaker(s):
Lee, Mel The College Board
Gonzalez, Eliel East Longmeadow High School
Barraza Brockett, Karly California Institute of Technology
Si Se Puede: Youth Guiding Youth for Success
College Confident and Latino Youth for Higher Education (LYHEP) come together to share their expertise in youth-to-youth guidance in college access for our Latino youth. A panel of expert youth counselors will teach participants how to use effective college access strategies to actively recruit and excite traditionally disengaged youth. After hearing from the panel, participants will discuss methods of innovative teaching using a peer-to-peer strategy to increase college acceptances, matriculation rates and retention rates. Participants will develop skills for implementing a cheap, effective and resilient peer-to-peer model for college counseling, as well as skills for guiding undocumented and Spanish-speaking ELL students successfuly through the application process. Participants will also develop skills for expanding their college access program beyond the walls of their schools and community organizations by using youth and peer-to-peer leadership.
Speaker(s):
Bloomfield, Natalie College Confident
Moreno-Escobar, John New Futuro
Trevor, Collins College Confident
Headlines, Bylines and Education: Media Impacting Change in Our Communities
As audiences become more informed about education issues through various media channels, they are becoming more proactive. In part, this is fueled by social pressures that demand urgent action, an unprecedented focus on education and the growing influence of media, especially new media. Chicagoland presents a great backdrop to examine how a cross section of audiences such as youth, parents, educators and politicians are interacting with media to create positive change around important Latino education issues. Journalists from news organizations in television, print and social media will share examples of the effect their stories are having across the region. Participants will learn what factors drive impactful education reporting and how they can better engage journalists toward positive outcomes.
Speaker(s):
Puente, Sylvia Latino Policy Forum
Gómez , Paula Univision
Cohen, Jodi Chicago Tribune
Lutton, Linda WBEZ Radio
The State Seal of Biliteracy: A National Movement
This recognition and award program honors students who have studied and attained proficiency in English and one or more languages. Appearing on the transcript of a graduating senior and pathway awards for younger students, the State Seal of Biliteracy is a statement of accomplishment for future employers and for college admission administrators, while preparing students with 21st-century skills. This is a powerful mechanism for changing the climate around bilingualism. The presenter will describe local and statewide efforts to implement a State Seal of Biliteracy — rationale and benefits, how to establish state and district criteria, the recognition process, and collaboration with chambers of commerce and businesses. Californians Together has created sample board policies, administrative regulations and various tools for elementary-, middle- and secondary-level principals, central office staff, co-administrators and/or superintendents to implement the State Seal of Biliteracy. After a statewide campaign, California has now adopted the State Seal of Biliteracy. Information on how other states are beginning to work on their own State Seal of Biliteracy will be presented.
Speaker(s):Spiegel-Coleman , Shelly Californians Together
Using Mobile Technologies to Sustain Transcultural Contact Among American Children of Guatemalan Origin and Their Relatives in Guatemala
Due to immigration status issues and poverty, many Guatemalan children are growing up in divided households, with some family members living in their home country while others reside in the U.S. This presentation will discuss the results of preliminary work on what role — if any — mobile technologies can play in maintaining and/or sustaining the bicultural character of these families. Although the session will focus on children between ages 12 through 17, the familial context will also be explored. Participants will examine the possibilities and the limitations of mobile technologies when the appropriate policy and systemic measures from the school system to support children in divided households are missing.
Speaker(s):Ruano, Carlos Foreign Affairs and International Trade [DFAIT]
Write On! How Critical Writing Strategies Can Raise Latino Students’ Academic Achievement in High School and Effectively Prepare Them for Success In College
This workshop is designed to meet two goals. The first is to equip students with writing strategies and tools that will provide them with access to college- and career-ready anchor standards by using a culturally relevant and responsive lens — a proven method used by the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Academic English Mastery Program. The second goal is that, through the use of Wireless Generation’s WEX Method of Writing, teachers and administrators can give students the tools they need to acquire core literacy skills for making significant gains on standardized exams and develop behavioral habits that drive achievement in writing, to develop academic passion and take their work seriously, and to excel in school, college and beyond. Participants will develop a toolkit of critical skills to help students effectively write personal statements, college applications and essays that will give them a tremendous advantage in applying, entering, remaining in and successfully completing college.
Speaker(s):
Hamilton, Katrina Los Angeles Unified School District
Mitchell-Dismukes, Kim Los Angeles Unified School District
11:40am - 12:40pm
Re-Culturing: Transforming the Community through the Advanced Placement Program
Schools and school systems are faced with the increasingly difficult challenge of preparing every student for the demands of a rapidly changing world. This session will focus on a local approach to meeting the need for college readiness by making Advanced Placement® the cornerstone of the college and career readiness process. Topics include academic preparedness, mitigating cultural and linguistic issues, and engaging community outreach to implement processes that impact college ambitions. Participants will learn practical ways to mitigate cultural and linguistic issuses as they increase AP participation and success as a means for improving college readiness. Participants will also learn how Advanced Placement can transform the climate and culture of a school community.
Speaker(s):
Kuzniewski, Michael J.S. Morton HSD 201
Truesdale, Tim J.S. Morton HSD 201
Parrie, Michael J.S. Morton HSD 201
Grazzini, Anthony J.S. Morton HSD 201
Prepárate Concurrent Sessions
Equity and College Readiness - The AVID Approach
This session will discuss the importance of in-school support systems for students, particularly students who are taking rigorous classes such as AP. Participants will engage with case studies, research-based strategies and model tutorials for AP students that have been honed over 30 years of practice in more than 4,900 schools. The presenter will discuss research findings on the relationship of AVID and AP Exam taking on the academic achievement of students and show how the AVID system has been incorporated schoolwide and districtwide (grades 4–12) to create a systemic approach to closing the achievement gap. Participants will learn research-based, effective and culturally relevant strategies for recruiting, engaging and retaining all students, and especially Latino males, in rigorous courses. Participants will also examine what culturally relevant teaching is and discuss strategies that can be used by all teachers with all students.
Speaker(s):Briggs, Patrick AVID Center
Engaging Latino Students with Online Resources
In spite of many Latino students making use of online media, a large percentage of the Latino population is underachieving. This session offers an opportunity to fuse educational content with digital resources through the discussion and demonstration of different services, resources and ideas. These tools are aimed at using technology to improve and further the education of the Latino population. This session will help teachers and administrators build a more customized learning environment for Latino students. The presenters will introduce and describe various websites/digital resources that are geared toward teaching and enriching the educational experience of Latino students, with the participants offering comments and suggestions.
Speaker(s):
Castro, Ana Premier Transmedia
Bisceglia, Jesse Premier Transmedia
A College Designed for Students with Grit and Motivation
Participants will discuss Portmont College at Mount St. Mary’s, a new college that blends state-of-the-art online learning with in-person student support networks. Portmont is designed to be a springboard for those young adults with “ganas,” the grit and determination to succeed, but who face barriers — financial, academic or social — that could limit their success. Portmont works with community partners, such as public schools, charter schools and community organizations, to identify such students and help them build positive learning skills. This is a new, innovative model in higher education that directly addresses the achievement gap through the use of high student supports, data and predictive analytics, and cutting-edge technologies. Participants will learn how high-quality online/blended education can open doors to underserved students and help them graduate with low-to-no debt and timeless skills that connect them to a brighter future.
Speaker(s):Vasan, Srikant Portmont College at Mount St. Mary's
Parental Engagement - Designing Workshops to Fit Your Community
This session will cover the parental engagement workshops that Conexión Americas organizes in Nashville, Tenn. The heart of the organization’s work is the Padres Comprometidos curriculum. However, Conexión has also learned to design workshops based on the unique needs of Latino communities. The presenters will discuss the strengths of the Padres Comprometidos curriculum and will present best practices learned over five years working with a young immigrant population. Participants will learn basic models of activities that can be adapted to suit the specific needs of their communities. They also will learn culturally competent techniques to maximize the time spent with parents participating in workshops.
Speaker(s):
Delgado, Laura Conexion Americas
Villarreal, Cristina Conexion Americas
Counterstories of TRiO Latino students at a Community College: Transfer Culture and Leadership
With America’s rapidly growing Latino population falling short of desired college completion rates, this session will serve as a forum to examine the benefits of calling out and dispelling the majoritarian assumptions and cultural deficit myths about students of color, specifically Latinos. Participants will be presented with research that brings student voices to the forefront, while engaging them for discourse. This session is designed to illuminate the unrecognized assets of Latino students to empower and support a transfer culture. Participants will examine narratives to find solutions and recommendations that can be considered by educators and institutions as they highlight the Latino student experience and give voice to a traditionally underrepresented community.
Speaker(s):
Munguía, Eva Margarita California State University, Sacramento
Chavez, Nohemy California State University, Sacramento
Contextual Learning & Cultural Relevant Curriculum: An Innovation Model Advanced by Latina Faculty
In this session, the presenters will address issues of gender and cultural relevant learning models within the STEM areas. First, the panelist will provide a brief overview of their professional trajectory as “mujeres” Latinas in a field that is predominantly dominated by white males. Second, the panelist will address and introduce the framework of contextual learning based on a cultural relevant curriculum and offer examples of effective mathematic teaching methods.
Speaker(s):Zarate, Sonia University of California Los Angeles
Measuring the impact of the HISPA Role Model Program
In this session, participants will learn about the innovative Role Model Program of HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement), where Latino professionals serve as positive role models to Latino youth via school presentations about their educational and career experiences. HISPA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for Latino students by working with middle school students to keep them on the path to higher education and inspire them to achieve at the highest level. Through a unique collaboration between HISPA and ETS, 300 students from 10 schools who participated in HISPA’s Role Model Program during the 2011-12 school year responded to survey instruments about their interest in pursuing higher education and the impact of the HISPA Role Models at the start and end of the school year, as well as after each Role Model Program session. Challenges and results of measuring the success of the program will be discussed during the session.
Speaker(s):
Diaz-Claisse, Ivonne HISPA
Cline, Fred Educational Testing Service
Green, Lenora Educational Testing Service
Recruiting and Retaining Undocumented Students in the Midwest
Even though the requirements for President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) mimic those of the proposed DREAM Act, the long-term solution for a pathway to citizenship and education continues to be at a standstill. However, many states, including those in the Midwest, have continued to work with both public and private higher education institutions in creating educational access for these undocumented youth. The presenters will discuss legislative updates for individual states in the Midwest and share best practices and successful strategies for working through the recruitment and retention processes with undocumented students. Participants will discuss and dissect legislation that impacts undocumented youth, such as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and the Dream Act. They will also share their knowledge of best practices for the recruitment and retention of undocumented students in the Midwest.
Speaker(s):
Carrandi de Bowe, Mona Saint Mary's College
Murphy Wardlow, Cynthia Indiana University South Bend
Ballge, Liliana Goshen College
Using Diagnostic Results with Customized Intervention to Increase Student Success
As part of the natural evolution from placement testing to diagnostic information to customized intervention, the College Board has collaborated with Pearson Learning to provide a unique, individualized learning option for students that links testing information directly to the needed content. In spring 2012, Miami Dade College, seeking ways to make developmental education more effective and efficient, piloted this new product, called ACCUPLACER®//MyFoundationsLab, with a developmental reading course. As a result of incorporating ACCUPLACER//MyFoundationsLab into this course, there was a significant increase in students’ pretest and posttest scores in key areas needed for success in college. This session will highlight that data along with other lessons learned by both students and instructors during the semester.
Speaker(s):Reynolds, Chantel College Board
World Café: Latinos in Education
Contemplating the myriad of concerns surrounding Latino educational achievement can be overwhelming... Where do we start? What will make the biggest impact? How do we move forward? Join a group of Latino leaders for an interactive World Café exercise where we will explore these issues, engage in group dialogue, and focus on innovative vision casting about the K-20 pipeline, educational access, and affordability of higher education for Latinos.
Speaker(s):
Flores, Chio Washington State University
Gonzales, Mary Jo University of Rhode Island
Palacios, Elizabeth Baylor University
12:50pm - 2:25pm
Plenary Luncheon: From the Classrooms to the Fields — A Leader Speaks
Madrinas, madrecitas, señoras, abuelas and mamacitas are terms commonly used to refer to the matriarchs in a Latino family. Dolores Huerta is the matriarch of the Latino farm workers movement and is often cited as a role model in the community. From the classroom to the podium, Huerta leaped into the forefront of the fight for economic justice. Her life has been dedicated to fighting for social justice and equity. Huerta’s voice echoes from the organizing halls in the central valley to the halls at the White House, where she was recently honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Education and youth development are very close to her heart; therefore, her foundation focuses on developing the next generation of leaders. Come hear this inspirational leader and true icon in our community.
Speaker(s):Huerta, Dolores Dolores Huerta Foundation/United Farm Workers
2:35pm - 3:35pm
Educando a la Comunidad: Reaching Latino Parents through Spanish Language media
The session will offer both practical and unconventional ideas for engaging Latino families and communities in our public school systems. One key element is establishing an intentional, relevant and consistent two-way communication strategy through local Spanish-language media that is conducive to parental engagement and, as a result, conducive to student achievement. Participants will learn how to inform and engage families through unconventional yet culturally relevant tools and strategies. They will also develop skill sets to help empower parents with information about the educational progress of their children.
Speaker(s):De Pena, Ruben Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
In-state Resident Tuition Legislation and the Postsecondary Outcomes of Non-Citizen Students
In 2001, Texas became the first state to legally guarantee in-state resident tuition rates to noncitizen students, substantially reducing the cost of college for these students. Since 2001, 12 additional states have passed similar laws. In this session, the presenters will examine the evidence of the impact of the Texas legislation on noncitizen students’ college outcomes, analyze the implications for both students and institutions in other states, and discuss how President Obama’s recent executive order on deferred action is likely to impact access, enrollment, retention and completion among undocumented students. Participants will examine and analyze quantitative evidence of the impact of in-state resident tuition policies on noncitizen students’ postsecondary enrollment and retention.
Speaker(s):
Dickinson, Lisa University of Maryland Baltimore County
Tienda, Marta Princeton University
Flores, Stella Vanderbilt University
Pender, Matea College Board
Making AP Chemistry Relevant and Accessible to Latino Students
This interactive and engaging presentation will showcase the research and associated instructional strategies that make the teaching and learning of chemistry relevant and accessible to Latino students. Participants will evaluate commonly used instructional strategies to teach chemistry and will collaborate with one another to revise such strategies to address the needs of the Latino learner. They will also evaluate the intervention strategies that are commonly used to address accessibility and achievability of the diverse learner in AP Chemistry courses. By developing a critical eye toward the instructional needs of the Latino learner, the participants will be able to review and revise their own instructional and intervention strategies to make AP Chemistry accessible and achievable for such students. They will leave with three to five criteria by which they can evaluate their instructional and intervention strategies and align these strategies to their Latino students.
Speaker(s):Magrogan, Serena The College Board
Prepárate Concurrent Sessions
Community Reads: The Anti-Summer Reading, Collegiate Reading Program
Dispensing with the reading = grading model, students at Osborne High School (Title I, 50 percent Hispanic) engage in the social and intellectual enjoyment of collegiate reading through a community reading program. Students in grades 9–12 (ESOL through AP), faculty from all departments, staff throughout the school, alumni, parents and community members (including university professors and teaching interns) participate in book discussions led by the senior AP English classes. In this session, participants will hear from an Osborne High School administrator who can attest to the success of the program. They will learn how to build an outline for their own community reading program — complete with possible texts, timelines and supporting staff. Participants will evaluate elements such as school diversity, community interests, financial support and internal leadership, while brainstorming methods for program expansion.
Speaker(s):
Glendenning, Jennifer Osborne High School
Thaler, Erin Osborne High School
Infusing Rigor in the Secondary School Culture
Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School is a low-income, high-performing school with a 98 percent graduation rate, making it one of the top secondary institutions in the nation, as noted by U.S. News & World Report. In this session, representatives from Mater Academy will focus on programs, partnerships, professional development and expectancies that are used to turn the mind-set of students toward college readiness. Topics will include the usage of data, the infusion of a rigorous curriculum, administrative walk-throughs, and the role of the C.A.P. advisor and the Parent Academy. Participants will engage in a discussion about how all stakeholders can pursue a paradigmatic shift toward a college- preparatory conviction. They will also learn tips for building a curriculum and culture that focus on college preparedness, including how to implement Pre-AP®, AP and dual enrollment programs.
Speaker(s):Marty, Judith Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School
Latino Stories: Culturally Relevant Framwork
Building a relationship with all students is the key to achieving success at any level of education. Using a culturally relevant framework, this session will explore several methods and strategies to engage students in the study of math concepts. These methods and strategies use a student’s foundational knowledge to teach the content’s essential knowledge and skills, while integrating vocabulary strategies to enhance lesson delivery. Participants will develop strategies for building a culturally relevant framework that will spur English language learner and limited English proficiency development.
Speaker(s):
Reyes, Daniel Fifth Freedom Educational Consultants
Gonzalez, Homero Fifth Freedom Educational Consultants
'First Generation' Means Everything’s a First! Preparing a 1st generation student body.
At Downtown College Prep, the mission is simple: to prepare students who will be the first in their families to go to college to thrive at four-year universities. Downtown College Prep has learned to address the unique needs of these students and families, and has created a seven-point counseling model that addresses the series of “first” experiences that students and parents encounter on their college paths. This session will share key ideas and practices that promote a college-going culture. After receiving a copy of the The College Completion Agenda; 2012 Progress Report, participants will learn how to apply practical strategies that promote college success with first-generation students. They will also learn how to identify areas of strength and growth based on the seven-point college model that will be shared at this session.
Speaker(s):
Lerza, Prisilla Downtown College Prep
Chairez, Gaby Downtown College Prep
Chavez, Edgar Downtown College Prep
Portillo, Lezra Downtown College Prep
Building the Pipeline to the PhD for Latinos: Creating Research Opportunities for Latino/a Graduate Students at a Hispanic Serving Institution
This session will survey why Hispanic-serving institutions are crucial to the development of postsecondary opportunities for Latinos. Participants will learn about two promising programs with long track records of success in gaining Latino students access to higher education: Proyecto Pa’Lante and ENLACE Fellows Program. In addition to examining how these programs have led them to an interest in the highest levels of education, students who graduated from the programs will share their experiences. Throughout the presentation, participants will acquire an extensive background about the significance of Hispanic-serving institutions in creating educational opportunities for Latinos. In addition, they will develop skills for pursuing culturally competent and relevant educational practices that can give these students access to the highest levels of the education ladder.
Speaker(s):
Velez, Angel Northeastern Illinois University
Ballinas, Carlos Northeastern Illinois University
Loeza, Miguel Northeastern Illinois University
Gaytan, Francisco Northeastern Illinois University
Maximizing Equity and Access in K–12 Schools
Participants will learn the organizational and individual behaviors that support exclusive, passive and inclusive relationships and environments in K–12 schools. They will also examine the assumptions, actions, attitudes and achievements that prevail in organizations. Participants will work with one another to consider how these behaviors may exist in their own institutions, and how to foster healthy environments that maximize equity and access for all students as they review the College Board’s new equity and access resource tools.
Speaker(s):Duggan, Odette The College Board
3:45pm - 4:45pm
Making a Difference for Latino Students: Preparing for New Opportunities
As elected officials consider the new immigration policies, more Latino students will seek access to postsecondary education. But are they academically ready to thrive in these new opportunities? This session will examine data from Advanced Placement, PSAT/NMSQT® and SAT® tests to understand the plight of these students. Participants will look at places that have successfully met the needs of students and increased the probability of their success in postsecondary education. The session will produce a brief that summarizes the issues, practices and recommendations provided by the group. Participants will learn about the various data sources that are available and how to use data from College Board assessments to determine the college readiness of Latino students. They will also develop practical strategies to increase the readiness and involvement of Latino students in postsecondary learning experiences.
Speaker(s):
Faherty, Angela The College Board
Monthey, Wanda The College Board
Identifying and Forging Synergistic Education Partnerships with Community Organizations, Industry and Government
Participants will examine the preparation and execution of several STEM informal learning events to determine how to successfully recruit community organizations, industry and government entities as partners. Four different types of STEM informal learning events will be discussed: a gender specific event, summer camps (short term and long term), year-round informal educational partnerships between secondary education and higher education, and competitive multidisciplinary events. Participants will learn how to plug into existing networks of professionals, students and educators through the judicious use of social media, secondary and higher education websites, and local professional STEM societies. In addition, participants will acquire new skills for identifying and forging synergistic efforts by sharing funding, personnel and facilities.
Speaker(s):
Prieto, Ruben St. Philip's College, Center of Excellence for Science
Duncan, Jo Dee St. Philip’s College
Addressing the Needs of Long Term English Learners
This session focuses on what happens to English learners during the years they spend in ineffective schools, which results in these students becoming long-term English learners (LTELs) — who are stuck in progressing toward English proficiency and are struggling academically with limited access to education. Who are these students? Why is this happening? What can be done to meet their needs? What can be learned from their experience that sheds light on work to be done across the preschool to 12th-grade spectrum in order to better serve these students? Research on LTELs — case studies of districts and schools that have piloted new effective approaches to meeting the needs of LTELs — will be shared. Participants will be provided tools for examining their own LTEL practices and for learning how to improve their programs and services.
Speaker(s):Olsen, Laurie Sobrato Early Academic Language Program
Prepárate Concurrent Sessions
Subitizing: The Seeds of Mathematics
The purpose of this session is to provide content knowledge in the area of grades K–2 mathematics to general education and special education teachers of Latino students. The general education and special education teachers will become empowered to teach more effectively in a standards-based classroom, thus enabling their students to understand mathematical concepts and increase their ability to meet the Common Core State Standards in mathematics, while focusing on numeracy. The session will focus on developing grades K–2 content knowledge, differentiations and standards of mathematical practices. Participants will analyze mathematics development in grades K–2 through the prism of language development. Through a discussion, as well as hands-on technology resources, participants will learn how to integrate the Standards of Mathematical Practice into tasks and how to differentiate those tasks using multiple intelligences.
Speaker(s):
Scott, Norbert Cooper Middle
Scott, Tameka Eastside Elementary
Broadening Horizons through Bi-literacy: The Sin Límites Initiative
Sin Límites is an after-school bi-literacy initiative with the goal of promoting bilingualism, creating a deeper understanding of Hispanic cultural heritage, and mentoring young Latino students to succeed academically and prepare for college. Projects in the four competencies, related activities, rationales and strategies will be shared with participants to help them acquire the tools to establish an after-school program in their schools. They will examine the educational importance of maintaining bilingualism and achieving bi-literacy as a instrument for success in both languages. This will involve a discussion of strategies for early college preparation and the tools for planting seeds of academic success with both parents and students.
Speaker(s):
Arnhart, Jeanette University of Arkansas
Restrepo, Luis Fernando University of Arkansas
Ortiz, Dulce University of Arkansas
Changing Campus Realities to support AB 540 & Undocumented Students
How can colleges and universities create a more inclusive environment for the increasing number of AB 540 and undocumented students they serve? This workshop will discuss the unique needs and challenges that AB 540 and undocumented students face as they embark on their educational experience, as well as the current national and Californian laws that affect their access to higher education. Participants will identify current national and California legislation that affects AB 540 and undocumented students. They will also build in-depth strategies for how to institutionalize an AB 540 task force on their campus, and will analyze various support services developed at California State University–Fullerton to assist AB 540 and undocumented students. Presenters will provide guidance on how to develop a strong support system, such as Institutionalizing an AB 540 task force on campus in order to create a safe and welcoming environment.
Speaker(s):
Muñoz, Elizabeth California State University, Fullerton
Hyder, Janette L. California State University, Fullerton
UNM's Centro de la Raza: Strategies for Academic Excellence and Student Success
Based on the current growth of the Latino population in the United States, the need for culture centers in higher education to ensure that Latino students receive critical social and academic support is becoming greater than ever. The goal of this presentation is to share programs that El Centro de La Raza is creating for academic excellence among this growing student population. The participants will analyze strategic alliances between cultural centers and local communities for student success, develop skills to strengthen partnerships that support academic excellence, and brainstorm ways in which cultural centers should respond to the challenges of the new millennium.
Speaker(s):
Bustamante, Armando The University of New Mexico
Williams, Theresa The University of New Mexico
First Generation Outreach: Student Perspectives & Best Practices
It is well documented that both retention and persistence rates are lower for many first-generation and underrepresented minority student populations. Through individual undergraduate and graduate student narratives, this workshop will discuss the academic, financial, professional, cultural and emotional difficulties that first-generation college students face, emphasizing underrepresented minority populations. The presenters will also discuss how to deal with parents who “wanted more for their children” and may soon be faced with the reality that their children actually do have more: more education, more opportunities and, upon graduation, more money. Throughout this session, participants will acquire a basis for understanding challenges that are unique to first-generation minority college students and discuss how racial cultures and traditions may affect student success; learn the importance of programming specifically targeted to first-generation students for purposes of retention; and examine best practices in identifying and educating first-generation students, including proposed outreach efforts.
Speaker(s):
Ray, Rebecca University of Illinois College of Law
Rogers, Suzanne University of Illinois College of Law
Thomas-Ward, Jamie University of Illinois
Camino a UGA: Map for Latino Students and Pares on the Road to Higher Education
This session will explore the efforts of a University of Georgia program known as CAMINO A UGA. CAMINO A UGA is a partnership between the university and select high schools in northern Georgia that is designed to enhance students’ and parents’ knowledge about postsecondary education, heighten students’ awareness of the college readiness courses in which they should try to enroll, educate parents on how to best support their children’s postsecondary aspirations, and provide financial aid information and resources. Participants will examine strategies geared toward postsecondary institutions that provide outstanding programs for Hispanic students and parents. Participants will learn how to develop ongoing and successful partnerships with high schools that serve a significant population of Hispanic students.
Speaker(s):Arroyo Driggers, Rosa The University of Georgia
Early Ed-Higher Ed Links: Academic Challenges, Economic Opportunities
As research indicates that high school graduation rates can be predicted based on third-grade reading levels, the links between early education and higher education are numerous and complex. Such links have significant implications for Latinos, one of the youngest and fastest-growing cohorts of students in Illinois: Nearly one in every four students in Illinois is Latino, a number that is poised to grow, as 1 in every 4 Illinois births is to a Latino parent. Research also shows us that these challenges may be ameliorated by the development of a strong, early academic foundation that is linked to high school graduation, mental health, wealth and income, and numerous other indicators of adult well-being. As the Latino Policy Forum has outlined a Latino-focused early childhood education policy agenda for Illinois, this panel will offer conversation around linkages between early education and higher education, and how we can work together to ensure strong educational outcomes for this growing cohort of students.
Speaker(s):
Okezie-Phillips, Erica McCormick Foundation
Osoria, Mariana Family Focus - Nuestra Familia
Puente, Sylvia Latino Policy Forum
Vigil, Jacob Latino Policy Forum
From Deployment to the Classroom: Transitioning from the Military to the University
The road to the Higher Education is a struggle for most but for veterans the struggle is greater. In addition to the transition from the military to civilian life they struggle with the transition to integrate into the field of higher education. These struggles become even more pronounced when you are a young Latina veteran who has recently left the military and is beginning your academic journey. The support that is provided to these young women is essential in their retention and graduation from the university. At the California State University System we have 23 different campuses located all throughout the State of California that provide support to veterans. California State University Fullerton is one of these 23 campuses, and here we provide a comprehensive set of services for these veterans. We begin with Outreach and Support for prospective students through advising on how to get to Cal State Fullerton and we follow this with services on how to obtain GI Benefits as well as how to obtain a Job on campus. Women Veterans need the support to be able to succeed and today we have 2 young women who will be speaking to us about their experiences on how they entered the Higher Education System and their journey which has brought us here today.
Speaker(s):
Aguilar, Hidy California State University–Fullerton
Estrada, Brenda California State University–Fullerton
Ramos, Maribel California State University–Fullerton
Twitter Party: It’s Fiesta Time
Have you ever attended a Twitter party? If you haven’t come learn what it is and how to leverage it to get your education messages across. Party attire includes your laptop, Smart Phone, tablet, or any other mobile device in any shade or color. @CollegeBoard, #Preparate2013, and @Latism look forward to hosting you at this event.
Speaker(s):
Gonzales, Mary Jo University of Rhode Island
Hansen, Nakia The College Board
Thursday, May 2, 2013
7:00am - 8:20am
Continental Breakfast
7:00am - 5:00pm
Registration
8:30am - 9:30am
Prepárate Concurrent Sessions
Performance based assesment and improved performance for Hispanic students
Many Hispanic students experience low expectations and low performance standards. Implementing a performance-based assessment model in classrooms with Hispanic students ensures that there will be equal expectations for all students. Based on his experience with Hispanic students in homogeneous and heterogeneous classrooms, Joshua Sollie of Lockport Township High School will present methods for creating and implementing effective performance-based assessments that level expectation gaps. Participants will develop skills for implementing performance-based assessment programs in their classrooms that are targeted toward underperforming students.
Speaker(s):Sollie, Joshua Lockport Township High School
Path to College Success: Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Latino Students
The Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services (LARES) program of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) was created to address the educational needs of the Latino community. LARES has an established track record of developing innovative recruitment and retention strategies that have contributed to UIC’s leadership in Latino education. In the state of Illinois, the university graduates more Latino students than any other university, and UIC enrolls more Latino students than any other four-year private or public university in Illinois. Participants will learn effective strategies for success in recruiting and retaining Latino students. They will leave with an understanding of how to build a framework for designing effective program components that addresses the common factors limiting Latino students’ success in college.
Speaker(s):
Teruel, Hugo University of Illinois at Chicago
Duarte, Luis UIC
Increasing Underrepresentation in STEM: The Scholars Academy-A Model for Student Success
This session will discuss the Scholars Academy of the University of Houston–Downtown and its efforts to support an academic unit focused on increasing the number of graduates with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees. Participants will learn about Scholars Academy’s five-point STEM model, which has yielded not only student success, but also a template for replication. The five-point model includes scholarship support, faculty/peer relationships, seminar/field trips, graduate school preparation and scholarly research opportunities. While explaining how the model supports underrepresented students, the presenters will summarize the longitudinal success data that outline how such a program can be assessed and explore the Scholar Academy’s five-point model that participants can use as a way to establish similar programs on their own campuses.
Speaker(s):
Garcia, Rene University of Houston Downtown
Nakamura, Mitsue University of Houston Downtown
Parker, Mary Jo University of Houston Downtown
TENER ÉXITO: Stories of Self-Efficacy from Undocumented Latinos Pursuing Higher Education
This session will engage participants in a deeper understanding of the literature on undocumented Latinos pursuing higher education. The presenter will share her qualitative, narrative nonfiction dissertation study of five Texas students’ experiences during their first semester of higher education. Through an interactive discussion stemming from a video montage prompt, the presenter will utilize the first 20 minutes to offer background information on the study and review of current literature on the topic. Following a short video, participants will engage in a 15-minute discussion that utilizes research-based ELL instructional strategies and activities. They will develop skills for helping English language learners and Latinos prepare for success in higher education. They will also develop action plans for the advocacy of undocumented Latinos pursuing higher education in their own educational settings through shared resources and policies.
Speaker(s):Bailey, Jennifer Kilgore ISD
PUENTE: Building Bridges from Community College to Transfer
The PUENTE Project is a national award-winning program that for more than 25 years has improved the college-going rate of tens of thousands of California’s educationally underrepresented students. Its mission is to increase the number of disadvantaged students who enroll in four-year colleges and universities, earn college degrees, and return to their communities as mentors and leaders for future generations. The program is interdisciplinary in approach, with writing, counseling and mentoring components. Participants will acquire insight into how an academic support program using a learning community model can be used to increase the retention and transfer rates of community college students. They will also develop practical tools for implementing an academic support program that is designed with the three component model of PUENTE. This model can be highly adaptable to a variety of college environments and student populations.
Speaker(s):
Robinson, Heather San Joaquion Delta College
Nunnally, Delecia San Joaquion Delta College
Latino students in our care: Education Leadership Summit on College Access
Education leaders will offer insights and best practices for supporting Latino students and their families in the college-going process. Educators and community leaders will share case studies that have changed their communities’ participation in postsecondary education. This interactive session will demonstrate how to connect students and their families to these resources as part of a comprehensive and systematic approach to promoting college and career readiness. Participants will develop strategies for increasing access to college planning resources at their schools, districts and communities to help ensure that all students receive the information they need to engage and participate in the college-going process.
Speaker(s):Garcia, Angela The College Board
Leading Success: Practical Strategies to Move Schools Forward
The College Board Advocacy & Policy Center and the National Association of Secondary School Principals have collaborated to create a free online toolkit for principals and school leaders to help raise student achievement and promote college and career readiness, with a focus on underserved students. Principals of schools serving a large percentage of Latino students will discuss strategies that can help create a college-going culture, build an inclusive school environment, and develop staff and student leadership. Participants will learn about strategies to build student leadership skills from two principals of schools serving a large Latino student population. They will also learn how to develop skills that will help Latino students invest in their own personal growth and increase their chances for college and career success.
Speaker(s):
Marty, Judith Mater Academy Charter Middle School
Flanagan, Ellen South Bronx Preparatory
Yung, Fiona College Board
Academic Records: Finding, Serving and Learning from the Struggling and Strong!
Participants will examine the Transcript Evaluation Service and the Transfer Admission Planner. These two statewide initiatives of the University of California help address the lack of information in regard to course requirements for college admission and a student’s progress toward completing those requirements. Following a brief presentation, participants will engage in a collaborative exercise aimed at developing methods for using academic record information to support research and data-driven strategies that increase access and opportunities for low-, middle- and high-performing African American and Latino students. By sharing new strategies for using academic record data, participants will be able to more actively engage in local and statewide efforts to develop tools and use data that support research, counseling, academic preparation and data-driven interventions targeting African American and Latino students.
Speaker(s):
Hillmon, Reginald University of California Office of the President
Hughes, Charlene University of California Office of the President
Gullatt, Yvette University of California
College Access and Success Among Latino High School Graduates Taking the SAT®
This session will review a recent College Board research report showing college enrollment and graduation trends among Latino SAT takers who finished high school in 2004 and 2010. In every case, students with higher aspirations, higher self-reported academic ability and higher academic achievements were the most likely to enroll in four-year colleges within one year after graduating from high school. Students in these top categories among the 2004 cohort were also more likely to graduate from a four-year college six years later. We found an increase in SAT participation, AP participation and two-year college enrollment, and an increase in SAT takers with high aspirations and self-perceived ability. Participants will examine and learn statistics about positive trends, combined with the findings around the relationship between student characteristics and college enrollment.
Speaker(s):McKillip, Mary The College Board
Crossing the Finish Line: Latino Students and College Completion
As our population changes, so do the needs of our families and the paths of our community members. Given the rapid growth in the number of Hispanic Americans in the United States, the economic fate of the nation is dependent on the academic success and college completion of Hispanic students. Discover how three of the nation’s premier philanthropic foundations are working with nonprofit and community-based organizations throughout the country to develop effective practices for ensuring that Latino students are prepared to get ready for, get into and get through college.
Speaker(s):
Fernandez, Henry USA Funds
Fraire, Jacob Texas Guaranteed Loan Corporation
Gridiron Smith, Tina Lumina Foundation
9:50am - 11:10am
Morning Plenary: The Benefits of Diversity in Education — The Experts Speak
With a pending Supreme Court decision on Fischer v. University of Texas, the education community is trying to determine how a decision either way will impact K–12 and higher education. Oral arguments on this case were heard in October and it is likely that a reassessment on issues of race conscious policies and practices is currently under consideration by the justices of the Supreme Court. Come learn about the background of this legal case and its potential impact on society from this panel of experts.
Speaker(s):
Bireda, Saba EducationCounsel LLC, District of Columbia
Montoya, James The College Board
Moran, Rachel UCLA School of Law, University of California–Los Angeles
Starks, Alvin African American Policy Forum
11:20am - 12:20pm
Using AVID Data to Increase AP Participation
AVID is a program designed to increase the academic potential of the middle-of-the-road student and the student who would not normally have an opportunity to attend college. Students who have been in an AVID program are far more likely to graduate from college, in contrast to their peers who have not been exposed to the program and its strategies. Participants will develop strategies for using data more effectively to determine student eligibility in the AVID and AP Program. They will also learn how to disaggregate data to improve instruction and thereby increase student achievement.
Speaker(s):Hlavaty, Rhonda Tulsa Public Schools
Prepárate/A Dream Deferred Concurrent Sessions
Beyond the A-Z Taxonomy: Next Steps and Exploring Processes to Implement the Common Core and other Practices
This session will go beyond the previously presented taxonomy of culturally responsive teaching and learning strategies and practices. What Is It About Me You Can’t Teach? will serve as the catalyst for administrators and teacher leaders to discuss, draw conclusions and make implications regarding what they can do to support teachers in building their capacity to teach all children. Participants will observe and practice strategies to increase student engagement, develop cognitive skills and empower students to take responsibility for their own learning. Then, they will write personal reflections, resulting in a personal/professional plan for action, and leave with their own personal plan of action to serve as advocates for students through appropriate administrator and teacher leader practices.
Speaker(s):Rodriguez, Eleanor Renee Rodriguez and Associates
Promoting Community College Success: Promising Practices and Structures
The College Board recently completed a study looking at retention models in two-year colleges. This follows a 2009 study that investigated similar models at four-year institutions. This session will examine the broad themes from these studies and review strategies for improving student persistence. Participants will analyze the most prominent structures and strategies in place to promote student success in U.S. community colleges. They will also learn how to utilize the promising practices matrix as a self-evaluation tool and vehicle for promoting campuswide discussions and reflexive practices.
Speaker(s):
Williams, Ronald A. The College Board
Lucido, Jerry University of Southern California
Implementing a Successful Peer College Counseling Program
At its core the Peer College Counseling (PCC) program utilizes current high school students as paraprofessionals to supplement the services provided by a counselor to its student body. Presenters will review the necessary elements to implement a successful PCC program that will enable schools to provide greater service to students seeking a postsecondary education. They will also illustrate different variations of PCC programs that can incorporate partnerships with local community colleges, universities, educational outreach programs and nonprofit organizations. Participants will develop skills for working with high school students whose ability to increase college-going rates at their school is typically underestimated. In fact, a well-trained high school student can function at the level of a university/college outreach staff. Participants will also learn how peer college counselors can play a critical role in increasing the number of students who are well informed about their college options.
Speaker(s):
Lopez, Erika UCLA Early Academic Outreach Program
Paredes, Alex LAUSD
Bribiesca, Yadira UCLA
Cristales, Hugo UCLA EAOP
Increasing the African American and Latino Law School Pipeline: The Role of DiscoverLaw.org
By using DiscoverLaw.org and its various initiatives, participants will focus on leveraging resources available through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). With this unique collaboration, participants will be able to develop innovative and strategic approaches to increasing the number of African American and Latino students in law school. The goal is to create a network of partners who are sharing information and experiences that will enhance one another’s programs and provide substantive resources and information to students and those who work with them. Participants will learn how to collaborate with LSAC’s Diversity Initiatives Office, how to navigate LSAC’s grant funding process, and how to incorporate DiscoverLaw.org and its various initiatives into outreach programs and activities.
Speaker(s):
Abdul-Kareem, Yusuf Law School Admission Council
García-Lebrón, Yessenia Z. Law School Admission Council
Partnerships to Promote College Affordability, Enrollment and Success
The College Board Advocacy & Policy Center’s mission is to ensure that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed in college and beyond. The Center, working with partners committed to similar goals, has developed innovative approaches to inform students and parents about the benefits of postsecondary education and how to pay for it. Learn about three creative projects that have successfully translated data and facts into accessible and understandable messages, and that have delivered that information using student-centered, parent-friendly tools and materials. Participants will review the results of these projects implemented during the past year that will reach hundreds of thousands of low- and moderate-income students and their families, and will learn how to apply this data in their own institutions.
Speaker(s):
Little, Kathleen The College Board
Brooks, Steven North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
Many, Annika The College Board
Advocacy for All: One District’s Mission to Ensure Equity and Access
This presentation highlights the efforts of one large urban school district that has created a culture ensuring college and career readiness for all. Discover how the district has successfully increased the offerings of acceleration programs from six high schools to 21 public high schools, delved into middle school initiatives that are designed to provide a direct feeder into these programs, and developed points of pride in recruiting and retaining students for these programs and in building a culture of college and career readiness. Participants will learn the value of acceleration mechanisms and their benefit to communities that want to build a culture of college and career readiness. They will leave with tools and practices that they can immediately implement in their district.
Speaker(s):
Bailey, Tyler Joi Duval County Public Schools
Girardeau, Carolyn Duval County Public Schools
Hardeman, Bernadette Duval County Public Schools
Facebook Me: Using Social Media to Promote College Retention
Participants will review, examine and learn methods for implementing the use of online social media applications as a major platform for college retention. The Illinois Completes College program utilizes Facebook as the principal outlet for sharing tips and resources. Participants will develop and implement strategies to increase college attendance and graduation levels of low-income, underserved and first-generation students. Participants will learn strategies for using e-mentoring techniques to establish campus connections with students and families, and will learn how to measure and assess the effectiveness of social media.
Speaker(s):
Hernandez, Catalina Illinois College Advising Corps
Wasielewski, Kevin Illinois College Advising Corps
Newman, Portia Illinois College Advising Corps
Reconstructing the Communal School
This session will provide a step-by-step process for school transfomation through the reflection of a recent school culture/climate change. The two-year Manor Excel Academy (MEA) Project produced exciting results for an extremely at-risk population. The project served students with discipline and attendance issues, teen parents, homeless students, gang students and more. The results included 100 percent college acceptance for 100 percent of the graduates. Participants in this session will learn how indirect and direct impact community collaboration and high-quality staffing can affect student achievement and postsecondary opportunities. They will learn how to develop strategies for creating a college-going culture for any student population.
Speaker(s):Harvey, Christopher Manor Independent School District
The New Majority: Educational Imperatives for America’s Future
Hispanics, African-Americans and Asian-Pacific Islander Americans are already the majority in major cities around the country – soon they will be the “New Majority” in our nation as a whole. Our society’s future well-being, productivity and global competitiveness can be assured only if we harness their skills, labor, inventiveness and resourcefulness. Besides the economic imperative, a moral imperative must propel us forward. Undocumented immigrants and Native Americans need to be part of the national discussion on increased educational opportunity, and these student populations will also be address as well. Attend this session to dialogue about the challenges surrounding these issues with faith, optimism and courage! Participants will learn about new methods and new tools to access their full potential, and will include non-cognitive attributes, such as leadership, communication, perseverance, and organizational skills.
Speaker(s):Donado, Yvette Educational Testing Service
World Café: Diversity in Education
After an enlightening and thought-provoking plenary session, “The Benefits of Diversity in Education —The Experts Speak,“ join several multicultural leaders involved with the College Board for an interactive World Café exercise, where we will engage in group dialogue and proactive bridge building around the tenet that diversity is an educational interest that reaches beyond traditional racial and ethnic lines.
Speaker(s):
Santiago, Helen The College Board
Bordeaux, Valerie California State University–Long Beach
Green Jones, Ingrid The College Board
12:30pm - 2:10pm
Plenary Luncheon: Diversity — An Institutional Priority, Practitioners Speak
As a follow-up to the morning plenary on Fisher v. University of Texas, the panelists will engage in a lively and timely conversation about the potential impact of the possible outcomes of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the use of race in college admission. Panelists will explore how we can leverage a ”collective voice” across ethnic groups to promote policies, programs and resources that serve to close the educational opportunity and achievement gaps for minority students.
Two additional presenters not listed below due to space limitations: Chio Flores, Director, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
Washington State University; Encarnacion “Chon” Ruiz, Director of Admissions, University of California–Merced
Speaker(s):
Archuleta, Irma Evergreen Valley College
Ashley, III, Frank Texas A&M University System
Lamair Burks II, Tony National Center for Urban School Transformation, San Diego State University/North Region at Atlanta Public Schools
Cash, Arlene Spelman College
2:20pm - 3:20pm
Fisher v. the University of Texas: Diversity in the Balance
In Fisher v. University of Texas, a federal case that reexamines the use of race and ethnicity in college admission, the Supreme Court will review its prior affirmation of the limited use of race and ethnicity to meet mission-driven enrollment diversity goals at institutions of higher education. This session will review the current law and the status of the case, and offer suggestions for responses and reactions to possible outcomes. Participants will discuss how the Supreme Court’s ultimate decision could ban many of the effective practices that are employed by higher education institutions to facilitate access to education for traditionally underserved populations. Participants also will make suggestions for what to do in the absence of those practices and how the higher education community can continue to find ways to promote diversity as an educational benefit for all.
Speaker(s):Quin, Bradley The College Board
Online College Planning Resources: A Systemic Approach to Engage Students and Families
Leading schoolwide, districtwide and statewide efforts to ensure that all students find a college that fits is a huge undertaking. This is especially difficult when working with underserved populations. This session will review actionable research and offer insights into these students’ unique college planning needs. Through an online demonstration, participants will learn how to structure a K–12 systemic approach utilizing online college planning tools. They will also examine ready-to-use strategies and lesson plans and learn how to integrate online tools and resources into their college awareness and planning programs and curricula.
Speaker(s):
Ben-Yoseph, Roy The College Board
Thacker, Lloyd The Education Conservancy
Bell, April E. The College Board
Effective Approaches for Defining Ethical Leadership and Civic Engagement for Today's Students, Parents, Teachers and Administrators
This session delves into the formation of a collaboration of the Florida International University College of Law, other university colleagues and Miami-Dade County Public Schools that ultimately led to a one-day summit on the importance of helping students become responsible, ethical and engaged citizens. The session will demonstrate how such a summit can serve as an effective “college readiness” platform for exposing students to a university setting early on in their education. Participants will learn how to demonstrate the value of bringing community members (parents, teachers, leadership/ethics nonprofits and school boards) together in a setting where there is nothing ”at stake,” which serves as a mechanism for effective communication and information exchange. Participants will also develop potentially innovative strategies for advancing college readiness goals.
Speaker(s):Mason, Michelle Florida International University College of Law
Prepárate/A Dream Deferred Concurrent Sessions
Strategies and Practices for Increasing Academic Achievement for Young Men of Color
Recent research revealed that although young men of color face several barriers that impact their ability to successfully navigate the K–16 pipeline, there are strategies and programs that can and do help these students succeed against the odds. This session will include a dialogue that provides practitioners, school leaders, school counselors, higher education professionals and community advocates the tools and practical strategies needed to raise achievement and elevate college aspirations for America’s young men of color. Participants will learn from education professionals, scholars, community advocates and practitioners about practical tools and strategies designed to raise achievement and increase college aspirations of young men of color. They will also examine strategies for implementing innovative practices designed to increase completion rates among young men of color in secondary and postsecondary environments.
Speaker(s):
Ponjuan, Luis University of Florida
Rincon, Alphonso Fathers Active in Communities & Education
Marks, Bryant Morehouse College
Harris, Frank San Diego State
Using Collaborative Tools to Increase STEM Engagement for Girls
Increasing the number of girls participating in STEM classes will require critical collaborations that are capable of leveraging resources and building organizational capacity. Participants in this session will learn about the proven model, tools and resources developed by the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) to strengthen practitioner efforts to engage and support girls and women in STEM programs. Having reached more than 6 million girls across 38 states since 2002, NGCP’s best practices, resources and opportunities for engagement will be shared and experienced via hands-on activities and networking opportunities. Participants will analyze the NGCP collaboration model and its use of available tools and resources to strengthen its efforts, and they will develop skills for building individual and organizational capacity by learning about exemplary practice strategies that increase the engagement of girls in STEM.
Speaker(s):
Raya, Victoria EdLab Group
Peterson, Karen EdLab Group
Best Practices for Helping All Students Get Ready for the SAT
This session will feature a discussion of best practices from schools that have used free and affordable SAT practice resources from the College Board to create a successful SAT preparation program that not only helps students get ready for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests, but also reinforces a college-going culture. This session will be facilitated by an SAT Program staff member and will feature district administrators and educators. Participants will discuss best practices, strategies and tools for implementing an SAT preparation program at their school or district. They will also develop strategies for connecting all students and their families to the College Board’s free tools and resources to guide them through the college admission process.
Speaker(s):Roman, Monica The College Board
It's a FAMily Tradition: Faculty Mentoring, Student Persistence, and First-Generation College Students
Are you concerned about first-to-second-year retention rates of first-generation students on your campus? This session, led by members of the Faculty Academic Mentor (FAM) program of St. Mary’s University, showcases how faculty mentoring impacts first-generation students by increasing faculty and student interactions outside the classroom. The presenters will explain how to cultivate an inclusive environment for first-generation students by looking at the characteristics and challenges faced by these students, as well as best practices for establishing a faculty mentoring program. Participants will discuss and develop best practices to encourage faculty and student interactions beyond the classroom, while learning how to use this innovative program as a guide to increase retention and achievement among first-generation students.
Speaker(s):
Hart, Leticia St. Mary's University
Sanchez, Adriana St. Mary's University
Advancing Teaching and Learning with AP Insight
Advanced Placement has developed a new “always-on” classroom tool to help teachers anticipate student misunderstandings, provide insight into diverse student needs and increase the opportunity for all students to succeed in AP. Codeveloped with expert teachers and piloted in urban, suburban and rural settings, AP Insight empowers teachers with research-based, classroom-tested tools that they can use to focus on critical challenge areas and to engage students with individual feedback and resources that will increase student achievement. To begin, AP Insight supports AP Biology, a course recently redesigned to emphasize the conceptual thinking and skills application required for success in higher education and beyond. In this session, educators from our pilot and our AP Program staff will share the lessons they learned while implementing and refining assessments, instruction and professional learning to meet the needs of diverse classrooms. Participants will learn best practices for improving student performance that they can incorporate into their own instructional toolbox, such as strategies for using through-course assessments to impact instruction, target challenge areas and interpret misunderstandings, and to provide effective feedback that will help students close gaps while moving the whole class forward.
Speaker(s):
Dylinski, Danielle Northside Independent School District
Hamen Farrar, Cynthia The College Board
Silverstone, Elaine The College Board
Strong, Dennis-Ann Northside ISD
Developing Your Educator Swagger — Improving Student Learning, Retention and Satisfaction
This interactive session is designed for educators who seek further development in student success strategies and further guidance on improving student learning, retention and satisfaction. Participants will explore and define essential professional development areas and self-identify their competences in 10 skill areas, highlighting their purpose for working in education. Each participant will leave with an “Educator Swagger Score,” a time-referenced plan for professional development, and a wealth of resources that are essential for student achievement. Participants will define their purpose for working in education, and subsequently develop a time-specified action plan for career growth. They will examine their passions and expertise in areas crucial for success and optimal student development services.
Speaker(s):Jean, Daniel Montclair State University
Using Preteaching to Improve Academic Performance in Mathematics for African Americans and Latinos
The Calculus Project (TCP) has successfully narrowed the achievement gap by increasing the number of African American and Latino students who enroll in honors and advanced-level mathematics courses at Brookline High School in Massachusetts. Due to the rigidity of the honors and standard-level tracks, enrollment in Calculus Honors or AP Calculus by 12th grade was impossible for African American and Latino students who excelled at standard-level mathematics. The curriculum that supports TCP is composed of summer enrichment courses in mathematics that run between and parallel to honors and standard-level courses. Participants will learn replicable strategies for narrowing the achievement gap in mathematics by creating summer enrichment courses that focus on preteaching core mathematical concepts. These strategies will help provide ongoing academic support during the school year, increase parental involvement, and cultivate a strong academic culture at participants’ respective institutions to promote high academic achievement for African American and Latino students.
Speaker(s):Mims, Adrian Brookline High School
3:30pm - 5:00pm
Prepárate Closing Plenary: Movement Inspiring Art and Progress for Latino Youth
From the barrios in East Los Angeles to the Hollywood studios, Moctesuma Esparza has never forgotten where he came from or where he wants to go. Esparza was an organizer of the Chicano Blowouts in 1968 where Mexican American youth demanded equal educational opportunities through protests, which he later captured in the HBO documentary Blowouts. Come hear his story and how he continues the fight for social justice and educational opportunity for Latino youth through his work.
Speaker(s):Esparza, Moctesuma Esparza/Katz Productions
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Prepárate / A Dream Deferred Networking Reception