Expert Review Team June Working Session:
English and Science College Readiness Project

From June 26-28, over 100 educators and College Readiness Project supporters made their way to the picturesque waterfront town of Edmonds Washington and the Edmonds Conference Center. In this English and Science Review Team Working Session, participants had the opportunity to engage in rich cross-sector discussions around the most recent draft of the definitions while exploring other state and national efforts in this area.

The event represented a broad, cross-sector effort to bring the collective wisdom of a diverse group of Washington educators to bear on the draft English and science definitions with the aim of improving and strengthening the work to date. Their brief charge for the next two days would be to review the definitions and make recommendations for additions, deletions and changes.

To help support the participants’ work in this endeavor, state and national experts were on hand throughout the duration of the session to support the vital work this group had taken on. In addition, members of the project content team, who help oversee the project, their perspectives to the discussions.

Facilitator, Terryll Bailey of The Allison Group presented the agenda and set forth the overriding Project goal of the Review Team Meeting:

“Define what students need to know and be able to do to successfully perform entry-level college (2- or 4-year) coursework in English and Science”

To view Terryll’s PowerPoint presentation, click here.

In a kick-off address that first morning, HECB Associate Director for P-16, Academic Affairs, Ricardo Sanchez provided an overview of the project’s history (PowerPoint), guiding principles and work to date. He then introduced Washington State Senator Rosemary McAuliffe, who offered her support and encouragement.

Darya Veach of the Educational Policy Improvement Center, explained the function of the online tool that has facilitated the dynamic exchange of information among the developers of the definitions draft.

John House, Program Coordinator of the Washington State Transition Mathematics Project and member of the HECB College Readiness Project Management Team, presented his insider’s perspective of the TMP’s existing work on college readiness in mathematics, which helped pave the way for the English and science project.

Armed with an overview of the project, the cross-sector review teams discussed the proposed college readiness definitions and their relationship to existing K-12’ Grade Level Expectations (GLE’s) and Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs). What followed was an active, focused, sometimes frustrating, sometimes enlightening and intense, exchange of ideas that resulted in a number of important and viable suggestions regarding the draft definitions. The input from the two-day review will be compiled and will inform future discussions by content teams that developed the draft definitions Final draft definitions are scheduled to be delivered to the Higher Education Board in December 2006.

“I hadn’t been aware of the specific GLEs and EALRs. That was very useful to know, and gave me a better understanding of what HS and junior HS teachers do.” - quote from a community/technical college attendee “I didn’t come in with specific expectations,… however, I have enjoyed talking with 2-year/4-year educators because it has shown me that what I have been doing in my classroom is relevant to college readiness, I also have identified weaknesses within my curriculum that I plan on working on for next year. These connections were so valuable!” - quote from a K-12 attendee

Click here for a PowerPoint photo slide show of the two-day expert review team working session.

For more information about the college readiness initiatives underway in Washington State, go to: http://www.learningconnections.org/clc/hecb.htm

Contributing insights into this work and the concepts of college readiness, David Conley delivered a presentation entitled, “Overview of Process and Issues Related to Developing College Readiness Definitions.” (PowerPoint)

Almost to a person, the intention to share and use these definitions to rework, integrate or newly implement them into their own curricula was expressed.

 

 

“The dialogue was great! Thanks for the opportunity – I gained still more respect for my colleagues across the state.” - quote from a community/technical college attendee

In a letter of appreciation to the review team members, Ricardo Sanchez writes:

“We appreciate the professionalism, experience and unique perspectives that you brought to the process, as well as the quality and quantity of input and feedback you provided. Your contributions bring us an important step closer to developing college readiness definitions in Washington State that we anticipate will be useful for generations to come.”

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