Weiss racing up

Joanne Weiss, currently heading up Race to the Top, will become Secretary Arne Duncan's chief of staff at the beginning of July. She's replacing Margot Rogers, who came to the department from the Gates Foundation.

Henry Brown

Titled "Race (or Long, Slow, Slog) to the Top Assessment"

in principle, we know how to do it and could in 3 to 5 years; in reality, there are technical and lgoistical obstacles, capacity constraints, contractual issues, resistance and inertia

a "new develpmental pathway to jumpstart innovation"
adopt a systems approach:

• new patterns of collaboration
• new measurement qualities
• new assessments
• and new platforms

need a comprehensive model of the domain, models of student learning, complete content standards, performance standards that are articulated, technology platform

four component system: diagnostic, extended projects, on demand test on previewed material, and on demand testing (forced choice and short answer responses)

focus on standard setting: mastery of material at grade level is not an end in itself; we want proficiency at the end of school. It's a milestone: you are this far along.

standards that you hope to measure should be an integral part of the test

technology is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end

lack of capacity of technology is a big issue, but the assistance of technology can be helpful: novel items, adaptive test designs, automated scoring

ESEA is undergoing reauthorization

change is difficult, and there are the constraints of contractual arrangements

identifying a viable state constortium

complaint that the assessment tail is wagging the instructional dog; complaint that you're involving teachers

(Interjection from Weiss that complaints from both sides "is what success looks like")

Money should be leveraged over time; alternative strategies supported; teachers involved at all levels; build in requirements; provide incentive to states; allow flexibility on timing

Director Joanne Weiss

While Secretary Duncan is not here (he's doing a presentation on RTTT later today), the director of Race to the Top, Joanne Weiss, is.

Weiss is the former COO and partner in NewSchools Venture Fund.
Her background prior to this is mostly in educational technology