2024-2025 WERA Wednesday Webinars

Past Virtual Sessions

If you are a WERA member, access to video recordings of past Virtual Learning Series events can be found here. 

Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from Noon to 1:00 pm

In part 2 of WERA's series on using AI in educational research, participants will hear from leaders at Peninsula School District about understanding and addressing potential biases in AI-driven quantitative research. 

 

Wednesday, October 9, 2024 from Noon to 1:00 pm 

Building a Balanced Assessment System
February 22, 2024

This session will provide actionable next steps aligned with Washington's MTSS framework, as well as protocols to allow teams to use their screening and intervention data to identify specific areas for focused improvement.  Additionally, ideas for evidence-based practices that can be implemented to improve MTSS outcomes will be discussed.

Washington was selected by the i-Ready analytics team for a customized literacy analysis. The report is a Foundational Literacy Longitudinal Analysis, and reviews data from Washington’s current 3rd graders by looking at their foundational domain literacy placements when they were in 1st grade. The data reveal patterns and trends that may be applicable to district MTSS and literacy work. The participation of colleagues whose focus is assessment, research, teaching & learning, MTSS, and/or literacy instruction is encouraged.

Current research on the literacy crisis suggests educators need to rethink instructional and assessment practices. How should early childhood educators implement equitable practices to close reading gaps?  Join us for a deep dive into the data, evidence-based practices, and MAP Reading Fluency.

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly created challenges in monitoring student achievement and growth trends; at the same time, it amplifies the need to have valid and reliable information about student performance. WERA is striving to provide insight into how district assessment teams can learn from the 2020-21 school year’s student assessment data, identify strengths to build upon, and seek innovative strategies for future work. This year’s student growth webinar panel includes representatives and researchers from three assessment vendors: Curriculum Associates (i-Ready), Renaissance Learning (STAR), and NWEA (MAP).

1. DATA TRENDS
• Overall trends in student performance and growth by subgroup, content, and grade, including any equity implications associated with their findings.
• Areas of system strengths and/or highlights of success (i.e. high growth schools).
2. PSYCHOMETRICS

• Technical consideration(s) and/or best practices to guide our interpretation of student achievement and growth data (i.e. scale score differences from fall to spring, and from grade level to grade level).

Each vendor addressed the topics above and with plenty of time for questions from the audience throughout the session. 

This presentation explores the increasing importance of all students being ready for college and careers and how both Covid-19 and the changing US economy will make it more challenging for all students as they enter college or the workforce. Several practical frameworks to increase readiness were  presented including the Four Keys to College and Career Readiness, Next Generation Assessments, and the Cambridge Assessment International Program. The goal of the presentation was to provide educators with a clear vision of the future of readiness and to help them to prepare for this challenging future. 

Presented by Dr. David T. Conley

Professor of Educational Policy and Leadership in the College of Education at the University of Oregon, where he directs the Center for Educational Policy Research. Dr. Conley is a national thought leader in the areas of college and career readiness, student ownership of learning, systems of assessment, and educational accountability. 

Thanks to our Platinum Sponsor, Cambridge Assessment International Education for making this presentation possible.

PAST VIRTUAL SESSIONS

Second Annual WERA Equity Book Study

Are we continuing to talk about bias as a “post-racial” society? Haven’t we moved past this discussion in our schools? After all, we learned about bias and addressed racial disparities and inequalities for students of color in our district’s culture competency class. Well, Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt’s Biased, Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice that Shape What We See, Think and Do offers us the opportunity to investigate bias from a scientific and psychological perspective. Informed by Dr. Eberhardt’s personal experience, the book is an immensely insightful analysis of the ways that bias impacts decision making, programs, and public policy. The book takes a deep dive into the science of implicit bias and prejudices through compelling storytelling. How do we address racial disparities and inequities? Eberhardt’s research reveals critical information that can help educators better understand the impacts of bias perspectives on the students and families we serve.

Four Sessions: January 19, February 2, February 16, and March 2, 4-5:15 PM via Zoom

Hot Topics
Washington Educational Research Association (WERA) offers members professional learning webinars called “Hot Topics”.  These educational webinars provide timely, relevant information and are typically hosted by people in the field that hold an interest and expertise related to the chosen topic.  

Are you interested in learning more about the approved dyslexia screeners, and the new law around the 2021-22 implementation? If so, join Molly Branson-Thayer and Aira Jackson for this overview of the legislation, as well as a discussion of the literacy skills and assessments that make up the screeners. 

Anton Jackson, Director of Assessment Development at OSPI, discusses the advantages and limitations of using interim assessments during this period of remote instruction. For districts wishing to determine a way to administer interims, including remotely, important guidance is provided. 

Hot Topics Webinar on October 6, 2020: Student Selections and Programming Solutions for the Highly Capable ProgramThis interactive Zoom webinar will be a provides a 15-minute presentation followed by 50 minutes of Q&As to address your concerns about many aspects of highly capable programs this year.  Some of the topics covered include suggested timelines, the student selection process, and addressing current instructional programming challenges in the virtual/hybrid classroom model. Organized by Brian Gabele with panelists from Bellevue, Clover Park, Pasco and Renton school districts and the University of Washington.

Hot Topics: Remote Learning Panel Series

The Remote Learning Panel is a special series of WERA Hot Topics addressing the challenges with assessment that school districts face during the pandemic when buildings are closed and learning is remote. The series is organized by Brian Gabele, Director of Assessment and Program Evaluation with Clover Park School District.

Remote Learning Panel, August 18, 2020 – Identifying English Language Learners in the Virtual Classroom 

How do we identify students who will need English language development support when we are not able to screen in-person with ELPA21? This session tackles that issue with the experts from OSPI: Veronica Maria Gallardo, the Director of Migrant & Bilingual Education, Leslie Huff, the English Language Proficiency Assessment Coordinator, and Amy Ingram, Bilingual Program Supervisor. After the presentation from the OSPI team, Kent School District’s Director of Multilingual Education, Will Williams, moderated a panel discussion. The panel wrestled with how to implement this new process for provisionally identified students and provide communication for their families.

Remote Learning Panel, August 12, 2020 – Virtually Administering WaKIDS Assessment

As Washington schools plan for starting school remotely, how teachers collect evidence for the observational assessment component of WaKIDS in kindergarten programs requires adaptations and creativity. OSPI’s Director of Early Learning, Karma Hugo, and WaKIDS Assessment Specialist Yoona Park presented the latest on WaKIDS, including new resources from OSPI and Teaching Strategies GOLD. Following the presentation, a panel of early learning educators responded to the information from OSPI, answered questions from the field, and shared strategies for success. Panelists were Alyssa Hayes, from Tahoma School District, Jessica Wallace from Bellingham Public Schools, Laurie Sjolund from Sumner-Bonney Lake School District, Lindsay Callahan from Clover Park School District and Whitney White from Puget Sound ESD.

Hot Topics Webinar on April 28, 2020 - ClimeTime Professional Learning and Instructional Resources

Across Washington, the students have been learning about the scientific dimensions of climate change through ClimeTime. This initiative is facilitated by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) —in collaboration with the UW Institute for Science + Math Education—through a Washington State budget proviso since 2018-2019 originally requested by Governor Inslee. Watch this webinar to learn more about professional development opportunities through the network of nine Educational Service Districts and six community-based organizations (CBOs) that address the Next Generation Science Standards and climate science.  During the webinar, Hilary Loeb with Puget Sound Educational Service District, Deb Morrison from the University of Washington and Ellen Ebert from OSPI will share lessons learned from the first year of the project and resources for teachers and home-based learning.

Hot Topics Webinar on March 10, 2020 – Inclusionary Practices Project Takes Flight!

The last session the legislature appropriated $25 million to OSPI for the Inclusionary Practices Project, an opportunity to grow, deepen and enhance professional development and K-12 systems to support core instruction in general education settings for all students, including students with disabilities. The project has launched and is in flight. View this webinar to hear from OSPI leaders and partners about the project’s navigation and destinations now and in the school year to come.

Hot Topics Webinar on October 21, 2019- Washington State Dyslexia Advisory Council

WERA held a “Hot Topics” webinar on October 21, 2019.  It focused on the charge of the Washington State Dyslexia Advisory Council, their recent work to identify literacy screening tools and what this means to districts across Washington. Presenters on the webinar were: Aira Jackson, OSPI English Language Arts Director and Dyslexia Advisory Council members - Molly Branson-Thayer, Senior Director at Cultivate Learning at the University of Washington, and Elizabeth Coon, Literacy Specialist in Seattle Public Schools. Facilitating the discussion was Nasue Nishida, WERA Board Member and Executive Director at the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession.