Call for Presentations:
Areas of Focus

The areas of focus for this conference all align to its theme and focus on the skills and ingenuity that are necessary for developing high-achieving students who will be the leaders and thinkers of the future and on developing highly skilled teachers who will be instrumental in closing the achievement gap and developing our future leaders. 

Data gathering in education is not new. It has been used at many levels for many years to gain information about student achievement and about systems with the intention of using it to improve achievement and systems. At the national level, education leaders are calling not only for increased accountability for student learning but for new and creative ways to help close achievement gaps and improve learning for all students. Schools and districts that embrace new ways of thinking and teaching will become the top performing schools of the future. American students will need to meet increasingly rigorous standards, and teachers and administrators will need to implement the highest-level instructional practices to ensure mastery at this elevated level. Data systems and technology will be part of the story; engendering a culture of success, from kindergarten through college, will be another part. This year’s conference will continue to focus on further developing the knowledge base of those experienced in continuous improvement practices as well as introducing new groups of educators to quality practices and how to apply them in education.

The steering committee of the National Quality Education Conference (NQEC) invites you to join in its effort to broaden these discussions and explore the use of data, technology, and best practices to ensure world-class learning both in K-12 education and in higher education.

We are looking for sessions that:

• Demonstrate curricula that develop critical thinking, problem solving, and innovation to develop top-notch thinkers. Sessions emphasizing how to develop interest and competency in science, math, technology and engineering are especially encouraged.
• Illustrate how data can be used to inform instruction, both in terms of student learning and instructional effectiveness. Best practices become so over time when they are proven to work; tracking them provides this evidence.
• Emphasize how technology can enhance learning and instruction while assisting in the record keeping that accountability demands. In other words, what is the full range of uses for technology in a continuous improvement environment, and which technologies are the most effective for those uses?
• Model quality practices in increasing graduation rates and retention, running operational systems efficiently and effectively, and in running student services systems more effectively, particularly at the higher education level.
• Exhibit the potential that these approaches have in creating a culture of success in schools so that failure is no longer an option.

Areas of Focus for the 18th NQEC are:

For more information about the conference areas of focus, please refer to the Areas of Focus page.

Adopting Rigorous Standards That Prepare Students for Success in College and the Workforce

Sessions in this track should focus on:

• How to determine what world-class standards are and which standards a district should adopt.
• The role of K-12 education in encouraging and preparing scientists, mathematicians, and engineers of the future.
• Developing innovation and critical thinking skills in our young people.

Building Data Systems to Track Student Achievement and Teacher Effectiveness

Sessions in this track should draw the link between teaching practices and student achievement. Individual presentations may focus on:

• Proven best instructional practices in a variety of subject areas with related achievement data
• The methods and technologies that best show the link between instruction and learning outcomes.
• The role of professional development of teachers in creating students’ academic growth.
• The types of data that are most important in promoting learning success.

Using Data to Inform Instruction

This track should include presentations that link multiple kinds of data to instruction. Presentations may focus on:

• Formative assessment and its role in directing instruction.
• Summative assessment and its role in directing instruction.
• Non-assessment data about students and how that information may inform instruction.

Using Technology to Enhance Continuous Improvement Efforts

Sessions in this track should focus on:

• The role of technology in enhancing both instruction and learning of rigorous curriculum.
• The role of technology in meeting accountability for learning
• Increasing efficiency and effectiveness of operations with technology
• Demonstrating cost savings through an investment in technology

Quality in Higher Education

Presentations in this track may focus on any of the other tracks as they apply to higher education. Topic areas may also include:

• Innovative ways to increase student retention and graduation rates
• Applications of Six Sigma and Lean in higher education
• The operational side of higher education and application of quality practices
• The role of continuous improvement in the student services sector of higher education

Creating a Culture of Success

Sessions in this track may focus on:

• The role of leadership in creating a culture of success
• The role of professional learning communities in success-driven schools
• Transforming mission and goals into action steps toward success
• Creating capacity with limited resources
• Shifting the mindset of a school or district toward one of passion, commitment, and teamwork