Policy Challenges Webinar: Supporting the Transition to the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics WEBINAR Thursday, October 6, 2011 3:00–4:30 PM EDT OVERVIEW Nearly all jurisdictions in the Northeast and Islands Region have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. Yet, as states and districts seek to implement the CCSS, policymakers and practitioners need to understand the foundational research and initiatives behind the standards, as well as learn how to build students’ knowledge so they will graduate high school able to succeed in college and in workforce training programs. In this webinar, Dr. Francis “Skip” Fennell, a mathematics education expert and member of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, will bridge research to practice as it relates to implementation of the CCSS initiative in the area of mathematics. He will clarify links between the CCSS and the National Mathematics Advisory Panel Report recommendations and provide an overview of the research foundations and policy considerations for educational leaders and practitioners to understand and implement the CCSS. He will discuss the new expectations for mathematical competency embedded in the CCSS and share practical strategies for building students’ foundational mathematics knowledge, particularly as they move through elementary and middle-school grades. Webinar participants will be able to submit questions to Dr. Fennell through an online chat room. DR. FRANCIS “SKIP” FENNELL FEATURED SPEAKER Dr. Francis “Skip” Fennell is Professor of Education at McDaniel College and project director of the Elementary Mathematics Specialists and Teacher Leaders Project. He is widely published in professional journals and textbooks related to elementary and middle-grades mathematics education, and he served on the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, chairing the Conceptual Knowledge and Skills Task Group. He also is a co-author of the IES Practice Guide: “Developing Effective Fractions Instruction for Kindergarten Through 8th Grade.” In 2008, Dr. Fennell completed a two-year presidency of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). He currently is principal investigator on a project aimed at designing a graduate curriculum for elementary mathematics teacher leaders, creating a clearinghouse of existing materials, and developing support materials for elementary mathematics specialists and teacher leaders. Dr. Fennell has been a featured speaker at several REL events and webinars across the country. ADDITIONAL PRESENTERS Jill Weber, Director, REL-NEI at Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) Pam Buffington, Moderator; State Liaison Coordinator, REL-NEI at EDC Carole Urbano, Technical Moderator; REL-NEI at EDC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Foundations for Success: The Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel IES Practice Guide: Developing Effective Fractions Instruction for Kindergarten Through 8th Grade WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Mathematics supervisors, specialists, teacher leaders, and coaches; elementary and middle school mathematics teachers; district and school administrators; national, state and local policymakers; state education leaders; representatives of professional associations and unions; and teachers, parents, and students. SIGN UP TODAY! Register today by selecting the desired event and completing the registration form. Please forward this invitation to a colleague. Early registration is encouraged. Registrants will receive a confirmation e-mail and instructions for logging in to the webinar. Any problems? E-mailrelneiinfo@edc.org. REL-NEI Webinars provide an interactive forum for state education agencies, superintendents, principals, district-level specialists, association heads, state legislatures, teachers unions, and parent associations seeking applied education research to make policy and practice decisions leading to improved student achievement and reduced performance gaps. These sessions not only present findings but place a special emphasis on connecting applied education research to the work of field practitioners. The Regional Educational Laboratory Northeast and Islands (REL-NEI) is administered by Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) in partnership with the American Institutes for Research (AIR), and WestEd’s Learning Innovations program. REL-NEI is one of 10 Regional Educational Laboratories funded by the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education. REL-NEI provides rigorous research that is relevant to national education priorities, responsive to local needs, and usable for policy and practice. Visit www.relnei.org. This project has been funded at least in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education under Contract Number ED-06-CO-0025. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) is a global nonprofit organization that develops, delivers, and evaluates innovative programs to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic development. Visit www.edc.org.