SESSION TYPE: Featured Speaker (Panel) SESSION TITLE: Common Core of Standards: Promises and Pitfalls STRAND: Whole School Issues DAY: Friday TIME: 8:30 - 9:45 am LOCATION: Mercury Ballroom, 3rd floor

The tenth amendment of the U.S. Constitution -- the so-called "reserve clause" -- declares that all matters not accounted for in the Constitution fall under the jurisdiction of the States. Since the word "education" does not appear in the Constitution, that critical part of our society has been the responsbility of the States from the country's earliest days. While "national standards" has become a divisive issue, a new initiative led by National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), with support from ACHIEVE, ACT, and the College Board is seeking to identify a "common core" of standards. To date, governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, 2 territories and the District of Columbia have committed to developing a common core of state standards in English-language arts and mathematics for grades K-12. This session will explore where the initiative is today and its implications for the future.

BIOGRAPHY

As Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education from September 2005 until January 2010, Lucille Davy revised core curriculum standards and graduation requirements focusing on 21st century skills, expanded high quality early childhood programs resulting in the closing of achievement gaps, and implemented performance-based state assessments and school-based professional learning communities.  A certified math teacher, she previously served as the Governor’s Education Policy Counsel and has been involved with several national organizations including the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Hunt Institute, Achieve, and the National Governor’s Association.

John Merrow, President of Learning Matters, began his career as an education reporter with National Public Radio in 1974. Since 1984 he has worked as Education Correspondent for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and as host of his own series, The Merrow Report. Merrow earned an A.B. from Dartmouth College, an M.A. in American Studies from Indiana University, and a doctorate in Education and Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Maria Neira, a graduate of Hunter College, CUNY, began her teaching career in 1977 as an elementary school bilingual teacher. She rose through the ranks of union leadership to become a nationally recognized expert on educational issues, where she served as Assistant to the President on Educational Issues for the United Federation of Teachers, and is now Vice President of New York State United Teachers and an AFT Vice President.

As President of ACT’s Education Division, Cynthia B. Schmeiser is responsible for leading and coordinating the research, development, marketing, sales, and client support of all assessment instruments associated with ACT’s educational programs. Her duties include supervising research, development, and marketing staff; planning, evaluating, and advancing new and existing programs; designing and implementing applications of technology in assessment; and planning and overseeing the implementation of the corporate strategic plan.

She received her master’s and doctorate degrees in Educational Measurement and Statistics from the University of Iowa.

Dr. Susan Zelman is senior vice president, chief advisor and system consultant for education policy for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In this role, she is responsible for engaging with education leaders at the state and local level on behalf of the public broadcasting system. Prior to CPB, Zelman was the superintendent of Public Instruction with the Ohio Department of Education. She holds a Ph.D. in education from the University of Michigan.