Oregon Graduation and Postsecondary Success Alliance Annual Convening
December 4, 2020
The Oregon Graduation and Postsecondary Success Alliance is a partnership between practitioners and researchers working to improve high school graduation and postsecondary education completion for all Oregonians. The alliance's 2020 convening provided the opportunity to:
- Convene alliance members to network with and learn from one another
- Increase knowledge about how to support equitable outcomes for Oregon students
- Learn from REL Northwest research focused on high school graduation and postsecondary success and discuss how to apply data and evidence from the research to support students' high school graduation and postsecondary success
This year's keynote speaker was Kali Thorne Ladd, executive director of KairosPDX, a nonprofit focused on delivering excellent, equitable education to underserved children, their families, and their communities. Ladd presented on "Radical Love and Reimagining: A Pathway Toward a Better Future." Ladd presented on the concept of Ubuntu and the relationship between love, belonging, a healthy brain, and optimal learning. She asked the audience: “How is love being prioritized in your institution? How do the staff know they are loved, seen, and valued? How do students know they are loved and valued? How have you created communities of belonging for your students and staff? How is Ubuntu exemplified in your arena? What does a reimagining of your institution entail?”
Following Ladd's keynote, participants attended a breakout session of their choice. The three breakout sessions focused on recent research REL Northwest has conducted in Oregon on career and technical education, accelerated learning, and school discipline, respectively.
Session 1: Career and Technical Education in Oregon High Schools
Participants received an overview of and discussed findings from the study Career and Technical Education in Oregon: Exploring Who Participates in High School and the Outcomes They Achieve.
Session 2: Increasing Equity in Access to Accelerated Learning in Oregon
Participants were introduced to a tool to look up and examine accelerated learning participation rates by high school or district. Participants also discussed targeted strategies to address equity gaps in accelerated learning.
Session 3: School Discipline in Oregon
Participants received an overview of and discussed findings from the study Are State Policy Reforms in Oregon Associated with Fewer School Suspensions and Expulsions?.