At the end of every school year, the International Center’s Model Schools Conference brings together educators from successful schools across the United States to share their best practices.  Representatives of a cross-section of model elementary, middle level and high schools present a rich array of approaches to delivering a world-class education.  In addition to presentations by these model schools, the Conference also includes featured speakers, district sessions and how-to sessions each day that provide a wealth of information and innovative strategies for improving student performance.  Our goal is to prepare the thousands of participants who attend the conference to become change agents in their own districts, schools, and classrooms.

What better way to share your expertise, experience, insight and success than to represent your school/program as a model for other schools across the country?

This year we will showcase both effective and efficient best practices and model programs. Our goal is to assist our Conference participants in maximizing resources while they continue to improve student performance.

An effective and efficient best practice is a strategy, methodology, program, or other intervention that yields positive results in student performance and involves either a reallocation of resources or a decrease in current expenditures.

We would like examples in the following areas:

• Staffing
• Professional Development
• Aligning Common Core State Standards
• Teaching and Learning (including academic intervention practices)
• Technology
• Organizational Structure/Schedules
• Use of Categorical Aid

The Conference Application must address the following:

• Identify how the best practice/model program has impacted student performance.
• What quantitative impact has the program had on improving student performance (e.g., increase (%) of students who have raised their proficiency levels, increase (%) of students making AYP, etc.)? If possible, provide any post-implementation data that demonstrate the positive impacts.
• Describe strategies and procedures for implementing the practice or program. Include implementation timeline and professional development needed to implement the program successfully.
• Is there an annual cost savings associated with implementation or have costs stayed the same but an increase in student performance has occurred?

As a speaker at the 2012 Model Schools Conference, you will have the opportunity to:

• Share your school’s best practices and successful programs
• Motivate your colleagues to reach new heights in ensuring a rigorous and relevant education for ALL students
• Network with other education professionals

Below you will find detailed information about the Model Schools Conference and the criteria for applications. 

CATEGORIES OF PRESENTATIONS

On the application you will be asked to select a category for your presentation.  Please use the descriptions below to guide your selection.

Model District
- highlights the innovative thinking and best practices that drive systemic change across a school district.

Model School
- features highly successful practices of a specific school/program. Model schools are high performing or have made rapid improvements over the past 3 years.  These practices are exemplary and should be shared with other educators.  Please identify your level as elementary school, middle level, or high school.

How-To Sessions
- How-To Sessions are designed to highlight specific examples of highly successful practices that can be adapted and replicated in other schools.

GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS

Applications are due no later than January 15, 2012.  Applicants will be informed of their acceptance by February 15, 2012.  This will allow schools ample time to prepare for the conference in June. You must submit a completed application to be considered. Additional information may be requested by the selection committee.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The Program Selection Committee includes K-12 practitioners and International Center staff.   We aim to offer a balanced program by selecting presentations that best fit within the framework of the Conference.  In reviewing applications, the Committee applies the following considerations to all completed entries:

• Met AYP for 2010-11 for all students in all student subgroups
• Alignment with the mission of the International Center: a rigorous and relevant education for ALL students
• Strong data in all dimensions of the Learning Criteria (foundation learning, stretch learning, learner engagement, and personal skill development)
• Relevance to the priorities of the International Center
• Creating a culture of change to drive school improvement
• Continuous school improvement
• Rigor, relevance, and relationships for instructional improvement
• Research based curriculum and program development
• Literacy
• Support struggling learners
• Data-driven decisions
• Effectiveness and Efficiency
• Next practices
• Timeliness and focus of the presentation
• Potential to offer solid, practical “how-to” information to benefit the audience, with a clarity of content that will motivate attendees to act
• Extent to which program is innovative

CONFERENCE FORMAT

The Conference begins at 7:00 pm on Sunday with keynote presentations by Dr. Daggett and Mr. McNulty and concludes on Wednesday at noon.

Last year, 6,500 people attended the conference.  Typically, 30% are administrators (superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, and directors); 60% are educators (two-thirds at the secondary level); and 10% are education commissioners, state and federal education department staff, legislators, parents, and school board members.

Sessions are 60 or 75 minutes in length.  Please allocate 5-10 minutes for questions at the end.  Each session is presented two or three times.  Seating is theatre style.

All correspondence will be sent to the individual listed as the Presenter unless another person is designated as the contact.

The International Center for Leadership in Education reserves the right to edit both titles and program description for clarity and length.

INFORMATION FOR PRESENTATIONS

Each presentation room will be equipped with an LCD projector, screen, AV cart and audio capability.  The International Center WILL NOT provide computers or Internet access. 

Your presentation should emphasize practical information that can be applied to classroom, school, or district settings.  All presentations should include descriptions of the results attained using shared strategies, best practices, and interventions. 

You are encouraged to make your sessions as engaging and interactive as possible, given the constraints of audience size.  The highest-rated sessions are typically conducted by one experienced and dynamic presenter.  Having multiple speakers leads to choppy presentations in which the key message is not communicated clearly.  These sessions try to present too much information and leave little time for meaningful participation by the audience. 

The International Center will cover registration, travel and hotel for ONE PRESENTER ONLY (no additional expenses will be covered). If your proposal includes multiple presenters, please note that additional presenters WILL NOT be covered by the International Center.

You can determine whether or not a handout is necessary in addition to the Conference Proceedings.  If you feel that a handout is necessary, please note that you are responsible for printing, shipping, and delivery to the presentation room. 

By submitting an application proposal, you are agreeing to provide a copy of all PowerPoint presentations and supplemental handouts to the International Center.  These documents will be posted on a special website for Conference participants, thereby extending the impact of the Conference and providing a resource for attendees once they return to their work location. 

If your application is accepted as a model school, you are required to prepare a 6-10 page paper for the Conference Proceedings. Papers are expected to address the school’s overall performance; however, your presentation may focus on specific aspects that contribute to the schools success.

Online Application           Conference Paper Guidelines

(Please note: The conference paper is not required at the time of application. Only accepted schools will be required to write the conference paper.)

If you have any questions regarding the application and process please contact Jennifer Colindres at
JenniferC@LeaderEd.com or 518-723-2062.