Downloadable version: Conference Call Notes, August 17, 2007
(126 KB)
Susan VanGorden, Forum Chair, Lakota Local School District (OH)
Bruce Dacey, Forum Vice-Chair, Delaware Department of Education
Linda Rocks, NESAC Chair, Bossier Parish Schools (LA)
Kathy Gosa TECH Chair, Kansas State Department of Education
Steve Smith, TECH Vice-Chair, Waterville Public Schools (ME)
Ghedam Bairu, National Center for Education Statistics
Maureen Matthews, Council of Chief State School Officers
Tom Szuba, Quality Information Partners
Beth Young, Quality Information Partners
Summer 2007 Forum Meeting Notes
The draft of the notes that went out prior to the call had a few minor changes made in the TECH section. No other changes were suggested, so the Steering Committee agreed that the Summer 2007 Meeting Notes were ready to be posted to the Forum website.
New Forum Working Groups
There are four new Forum working groups originating from the Summer 2007 Meeting:
Ghedam is also working with Ross Santy to establish a Forum/EDEN/OCR group.
Winter 2008 Meeting Planning
We cannot have 27 different SLDS presentations at the Winter 2008 Forum Meeting (the total number of grantees after the June 2007 awards). Instead, perhaps we can ask for detailed reports of activities related to specific topics (e.g., data warehouses, student IDs, data governance) and then have concurrent session reports by topic area. We’d need to identify topics of interest to both SEAs and LEAs, but this might be a good way of making the SLDS reports manageable and interesting. Given the amount of information to be shared by 27 SEA grantees, it would also be good to distribute written information/handouts for all presentation activities.
The new format for roundtable sessions appeared to very well received, but we may wish to amend presentation instructions for task forces that are nearing completion. Given that projects that are substantially complete really don’t need member input, why ask for feedback? Instead, those sessions should share more detailed presentations about the products.
Other Issues
It is appropriate for members to use the Forum listserv to ask questions to one another, but it is important that in-depth inquiries (like the current series of OCR-related questions) include a disclaimer that they are neither “surveys” nor under the direction of NCES.
FY 2008 Task Orders will be up to $50,000 for the planning of longitudinal data systems. Expect the Expression of Interest to be posted to the Forum website later in August.
The Forum cannot institute a Members-at-Large status.
The USED Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development (OPEPD) has accepted our invitation to join the Forum. Pat Sherrill will be the OPEPD representative to the Forum.
Forum Chair Susan VanGorden asked that standing committee chairs review the Forum's Strategic Plan and consider whether the objectives are consistent with the working plans of the committees.
We will develop a "task force thermometer" for the "Current Projects" page of the Forum website.
Next Call
Friday, September 28, 1:00 PM Eastern Time. Dialing instructions will be sent prior to the call. Note that after the September call, we will return to our regular schedule of third Friday of the month at 1:00 pm EST.
 Steering Committee Notes |
Publications of the National Forum on Education Statistics do not undergo the formal review required for products of the National Center for Education Statistics. The information and opinions published here are the product of the National Forum on Education Statistics and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the U.S. Department of Education or the National Center for Education Statistics.
