Conference Topic: Beyond Math, Literacy

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – State legislators, education researchers and arts professionals will discuss expanding education beyond math and literacy at an annual conference May 15 in Little Rock sponsored by the Office for Education Policy at the University of Arkansas.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Arkansas’ Educational Future: Literacy, Math, and Beyond.” The conference will also feature arts educators and other K-12 education stakeholders from across the state of Arkansas.

The conference will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at the Marriott Hotel (formerly the Peabody) in Little Rock. Registration for the conference is free. For registration information, visit http://www.officeforeducationpolicy.org/arkansas-educational-future/.

“While we still believe that literacy and math are important and foundational, we also want to recognize that education serves multiple purposes,” said Gary Ritter, director of the Office for Education Policy. “We are grateful for the support that John Brown III and the Windgate Foundation have provided to arts education and that he will join us to discuss their work.”

Brown, a former Arkansas state senator and executive director of the Windgate Foundation in Siloam Springs, will lead a panel discussion titled “Expanding Education Beyond Math and Literacy.”

The conference will feature three sessions:

“Arkansas Legislative and Policy Updates” featuring Laura Bednar and Karen Cushman, both Arkansas assistant commissioners of education, who will provide updates on curricular changes and educator licensure. A summary of the education bills proposed and passed during the most recent legislative session will follow. This summary will be discussed by a legislative roundtable featuring Rep. Debbie Hobbs, R-Rogers; Rep. Anne Clemmer, R-Benton; Jerri Derlikowski, director of education policy and finance for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families; and Mike Mertens, assistant executive director of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators.

The second session will feature research presentations focusing on outcomes other than math and literacy achievement. Joshua Barnett, director of research and evaluation at the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, will present “Measuring Achievement Growth Beyond Literacy and Math,” and Jay P. Greene, professor of education reform, and Daniel Bowen, doctoral student, both from the University of Arkansas, will present “The Benefits of Art Museum Field Trips.”

The panel chaired by Brown will include Paul Leopoulos, executive director of the Thea Foundation; Joy Pennington, executive director of the Arkansas Arts Council; Niki Stewart, director of education and exhibitions at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; and Scott Shirey, executive director of KIPP Delta. They will discuss their experience with arts integration in K-12 classrooms in Arkansas.

The Office for Education Policy will also honor 33 schools with awards for achievement on the Benchmark and End-of-Course exams.