Events

Community math nights (CMN) are designed to engage educators, children, and family members in learning and talking about mathematics, helping family members participate in their child's learning and support their child's academic success. REL Appalachia staff virtually hosted CMN trainings with educators from elementary schools in Kentucky in January and will host the trainings with educators from West Virginia in March. These trainings focus on the importance of engaging families in math education, the power of positive mindsets, and hands-on practice with interactive math games that teachers will facilitate during their CMN event.

REL AP staff trained educators from elementary schools in Kentucky on January 28 and January 29 to host community math nights. Community math nights are designed to engage educators, children, and family members in learning and talking about mathematics, helping family members participate in their child's learning and support their child's academic success.

REL AP staff supported educators at Harts PreK-8 (November 12) and Omar Elementary School (November 19) in West Virginia to host community math nights. Community math nights are designed to engage educators, children, and family members in learning and talking about mathematics, helping family members participate in their child's learning and support their child's academic success. Our fall math nights are focused on mathematics at work. They feature job talks from community members who use math in their every day work and hands-on math activities for families.

The Promising Math Conference was a convening of stakeholders from across the country where the teaching, learning, understanding, and knowledge of mathematics for children PreK–8 was shared. REL AP staff and educators from Harts PreK–8 in West Virginia shared the process and lessons learned from the development and delivery of researcher and practitioner codesigned community math nights.

REL AP staff supported educators at Harts PreK-8 and Omar Elementary schools in West Virginia to host community math nights. The community math nights are designed to engage educators, children, and family members in learning and talking about mathematics, helping family members participate in their child's learning and support their child's academic success. The math night activities are intended to create a shared understanding of the math concepts and raise expectations for math knowledge and achievement at home and school.

Members of the Cross-State Collaborative to Support Schools in the Opioid Crisis (CCSSOC) across the REL Appalachia (REL AP) states convened virtually for the fifth quarterly collaborative meeting. REL AP staff shared resources and strategies for educators as well as school, district, and state leaders to support educator well-being in the context of trauma associated with COVID-19.

Members of the Cross-State Collaborative to Support Schools in the Opioid Crisis (CCSSOC) across the REL Appalachia (REL AP) states convened virtually for the fourth quarterly collaborative meeting. Representatives from state and local education agencies engaged in a panel discussion about student and educator needs and supports, particularly around mental health and trauma, as schools plan for re-opening in the fall. The REL AP team discussed mental health and trauma screening in schools and provided an example of implementing trauma screening with elementary school students.

Approximately 20 collaborative members across the REL Appalachia (REL AP) states convened for the third meeting of the Cross-State Collaborative to Support Schools in the Opioid Crisis (CCSSOC). Two collaborative members from the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports Research and Implementation Center (VTSS RIC) discussed the implementation of trauma-informed approaches using a tiered approach in school divisions across Virginia. CCSSOC members learned how to use a newly developed resource to help educators identify common symptoms of trauma in students and relevant classroom-based strategies to address these symptoms.

Approximately 20 collaborative members across the REL Appalachia (REL AP) states convened for the second meeting of Cross-State Collaborative to Support Schools in the Opioid Crisis (CCSSOC). Collaborative members and attendees learned about a Multi-Tiered System of Supports framework and common components of trauma-informed interventions and programs within each tier of the framework. Collaborative members and attendees learned how to use newly developed program selection tools to select a suitable mental health program to meet the needs of students.

The Cross-state Collaborative to Support Schools in the Opioid Crisis (CCSSOC) is a group of stakeholders from state and local education agencies, community-based organizations, and universities in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia focused on addressing trauma-related consequences of the opioid epidemic in schools.

Members of the Cross-state Partnership held a quarterly partnership meeting to provide updates on an intensive support initiative with the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) and West Virginia Center for Children's Justice (WVCCJ) and share new materials developed to monitor the Handle With Care (HWC) program. The partners shared feedback on the HWC data monitoring pilot in Kanawha County Schools and ideas to make the data tools WVDE is developing relevant for use in partners' states.

The Cross-State Partnership on Using Data and Evidence to Facilitate Action met to review their final partnership research agenda, discuss preliminary results from a landscape and literature scan related to the skills, structures, and supports district and state leaders need to create a culture of data-driven decisionmaking, and plan for future research and TCTS activities.

REL staff met with state leaders in the Cross-State Partnership on Using Data and Evidence to Facilitate Action to co-develop a research agenda to guide the partnership's work.

This webinar shared tools and approaches to measure and improve the implementation of multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS)/response to intervention (RTI). The webinar focused on the benefits of using an MTSS/RTI implementation assessment tool, strategies for developing a well-designed tool, and supporting the use of tools and resulting data to improve implementation. REL Appalachia and state presenters shared example tools and resources.

This was the second of two REL Appalachia webinars on selecting, enhancing, and implementing performance assessments in science. Facilitators reviewed example performance assessments and highlighted exemplar instructional materials that supported their implementation. They also disseminated exemplars for improving performance assessments using the Virginia Quality Criteria Review Tool for Performance Assessments and REL Appalachia supplementary materials. Virginia science teachers shared insights and best practices from administering their own performance assessments through individual presentations and a Q&A session. For information on the first webinar, Introduction to Performance Assessments, which took place on August 4, click here.

This webinar was the first of two REL Appalachia webinars on selecting, enhancing, and implementing performance assessments in science. Facilitators summarized evidence-based research related to using performance assessments and introduced participants to the Virginia Quality Criteria Review Tool for Performance Assessments. Participants heard about the materials developed by REL Appalachia to use the Criteria Review Tool to support Virginia science teachers who administered their own performance assessments in the fall of 2019. For information on the second webinar, Performance Assessments in Use, which took place on August 11, click here.

This workshop was designed to increase Virginia educators' understanding of the Quality Criteria Tool and a 4-step process to support implementation of performance assessments in science. Workshop participants developed and deepened understanding of the evidence base on the effective design and use of performance assessments. REL AP staff provided educators with additional resources to support them in selecting, assessing, and implementing a high-quality performance assessment for use in science classrooms.

In this workshop, Virginia educators increased their understanding of high quality performance assessment practices and the Virginia Quality Criteria Review Tool for Performance Assessments. REL AP staff provided educators with additional resources to support them in selecting and assessing the quality of performance assessments for use in science classrooms.

This virtual training webinar was the third of a three-part series on supports for strengthening the transition from high school to postsecondary education and training. Presenters shared strategies for promoting social emotional preparedness for transitions to postsecondary.

School closures due to the COVID-19 crisis present a hurdle for students who are preparing to transition from high school to postsecondary education and training. In this virtual chat, REL Appalachia and our partners discussed logistical and nonacademic supports for keeping students on the path to postsecondary, such as supporting families in completing and making updates to FAFSA applications and understanding financial award letters and comparing costs, as well as addressing summer melt and providing students with social-emotional supports. Following a brief presentation, a panel answered questions from participants and discuss resources to address current concerns.

This virtual training webinar was the second of a three-part series on strengthening the transition from high school to postsecondary education and training. Presenters shared strategies that can help students and families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and college application requirements.

The Virginia College Access Network (VCAN) conference is an annual convening of educators including school counselors, college access professionals, university college and career readiness counselors, and leaders from schools and school districts who came together to share and learn about postsecondary transition best practices.

The Virginia College Access Network (VCAN) conference is an annual convening of educators including school counselors, college access professionals, university college and career readiness counselors, and leaders from schools and school districts who came together to share and learn about postsecondary transition best practices.

This virtual training webinar will be the first of a three-part series on strengthening the transition from high school to postsecondary education and careers. The webinar will focus on postsecondary knowledge including strategies that support student and family understanding of the expectations and norms of postsecondary education and training, and expose students and families to career paths.

Battelle for Kids and the National Rural Education Association (NREA) hosted their annual forum to advance 21st century education outcomes for rural students. On October 24, REL AP staff provided a short presentation at the plenary session to build conference attendees' awareness about the REL program.

REL AP staff presented a workshop and plenary session on postsecondary transitions and Academic and Career Plans (ACPs) for ten K—12 districts at Generating Pathways to Success, a conference hosted by Hamblen County Schools.

REL AP staff shared tools and resources on preparing students with social emotional skills for successful postsecondary transitions. The session provided research-based strategies for building school culture, growth mindset, and self-efficacy for all educators including teachers, principals, school counselors, leaders from schools and school districts, university college and career readiness counselors, and career and technical education (CTE) staff.

REL AP staff shard tools and resources on nonacademic strategies to support students' postsecondary transitions at the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Peer Group Conference. The VCCS Peer Group Conference is an annual convening for VCCS practitioner groups. REL AP staff presented the workshop, Building Bridges to College and Career: Supporting Self-Efficacy to VCCS career coaches who provide postsecondary transition services to high school students. The workshop shared research on the link between postsecondary transitions and social emotional skills and provided evidence-based strategies for developing self-efficacy, a social emotional skill that supports successful transition.

The NCAN conference is the premiere convening of professionals in the field of postsecondary access and success for underrepresented student groups. REL AP staff convened with college access leaders and professionals with the common goal of improving the postsecondary outcomes of all students. REL AP presented during a breakfast at NCAN for funders and districts interested in rural college readiness/transitions.

The Virginia Department of Education and REL AP partnered to co-design and support an evaluation of Virtual Virginia, a state-funded program offering online courses for middle and high school students. During our session at STATS-DC, presenters shared approaches developed through this work for collecting new sources of implementation and cost data, and integrating them with studies of a program's outcomes to inform decisions of policy and practice. Participants learned ways to strengthen evaluation rigor using extant data, strategies to improve survey response rates, and methods to understand local cost that state education agencies can implement.

This virtual discussion focused on supporting students in their transition to postsecondary. Attendees learned about and discussed an evidence-based summer counseling strategy designed to support students during the challenging transition between high school graduation and fall college enrollment. Participants discussed practical considerations for local adoption of summer counseling and heard from practitioners who have had success implementing transition supports.

The Rural College Access and Success Summit brought together teachers, principals, superintendents, legislators, non-profit leaders and many others to share ideas and strategies for ensuring that rural youth have the opportunity to successfully transition from high school to college and to career. REL Appalachia staff presented the session Mapping Our Way to Academic Success for More Students to share our work partnering with Kentucky teachers to develop Innovation Configuration (IC) Maps. IC Maps are a tool to help teachers improve their practice and boost academic success.

This half-day workshop was an opportunity for secondary and postsecondary educators and program leaders to network and discuss strategies for engaging families. The event shared evidence-based resources and build awareness of the supports that educators and other professionals can provide families in the region as students explore opportunities after high school and prepare for the realities of postsecondary education.

This workshop was an opportunity for secondary and postsecondary practitioners to discuss strategies that can help students transition smoothly from high school to postsecondary education and training programs. Participants learned about evidence-based practices and build awareness of the supports that educators and other professionals can provide students in the region during this important transition.

The Rural College and Career Readiness partnership hosted a virtual professional learning opportunity to discuss the role of families in postsecondary planning and to learn about how research can be used to support identification and implementation of strategies that work. The webinar built on the previous workshop in the series Family Engagement for Successful Student Transition.

The Improving Postsecondary Transitions partnership presented this interactive session at the Virginia College Access Network Conference. The presenters discussed the evidence levels included in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) and facilitated activities to apply ESSA evidence levels to an intervention. Participants learned about REL Appalachia projects and provided input on project design to better address stakeholder needs.

This interactive training event discussed the importance of family engagement in postsecondary pursuits and strategies for schools and districts to strengthen family engagement. Presenters shared information about the REL Appalachia Rural College and Career Readiness partnership and opportunities for future support.

This half-day workshop was a unique opportunity for educators to network and discuss strategies that can help students transition smoothly from high school to postsecondary education and training programs. Participants learned about evidence-based practices and built awareness of the supports that educators and other professionals can provide students in the region during this important transition.

The Rural College and Career Readiness partnership met to review their partnership logic model, research agenda, and data catalog; identify which research agenda questions can be answered using the currently available data and which would require additional data; and discuss next steps for the partnership in implementing the research agenda.

The SWVA Economic Forum engages participants through a shared vision of regional collaboration, growth, and innovation for all of Southwest Virginia. REL AP staff convened with leaders in business, government, and community and economic development organizations with the common goal of improving the economic growth and diversification of the region. REL AP shared our work in promoting the success of traditionally underserved students in postsecondary education and careers through their partnership with education stakeholders in the region.

REL Appalachia hosted a session presenting data on the employment and financial benefits of postsecondary education and training and sharing research-based perspectives on rural students' participation in college. Facilitators guided participants through interactive activities to reflect on their own experiences as educators and advisors and consider research-based approaches to helping more students pursue postsecondary education as a pathway towards achieving their career dreams.

REL staff met with members of the Virginia Postsecondary Transitions partnership to co-develop a research agenda to guide the partnership's work.

REL staff met with school and district leaders and data specialists in the Kentucky Rural College Readiness Partnership to identify the data needed to answer research questions identified in the partnership's research agenda.

The event, hosted simultaneously at three of the community colleges in southwest Virginia, was an interactive, engaging day designed to increase secondary administrative and instructional leaders' awareness of the benefits of postsecondary education and training, the primary barriers to access, and the opportunities available in the region.

The goal of this meeting was to establish a foundation for the spring partnership meeting in which partnership members will share their results and implications of the data analysis they engaged in during the Review of High School Mathematics Course-Taking Patterns Among Students who Completed Algebra I in Grade 7 coaching project.To do so, REL Appalachia staff provided partnership members and invited school division leaders with an overview of project activities and reviewed progress on the partnership logic model. In addition, REL Appalachia staff prompted members to share a partnership activity, resource, or product that has influenced and informed their work.

REL AP staff updated partnership members on the progress of current projects, provided evidence-based mathematics instructional practices, and discussed implementation of effective practices in an online learning context as well as Professional Learning Model (PLM) needs and plans. REL AP staff also shared REL resources relevant to needs identified by partners in recent meetings, such as meeting students' social emotional needs and addressing equity in virtual environments.

REL Appalachia staff updated partnership members on the progress of current projects and introduced teachers to resources and strategies to facilitate virtual math learning. Teachers learned about strategies for creating engaging online lessons through asynchronous and synchronous instructional formats.

REL Appalachia staff led school division partners in cross-division discussions of strategies and needs related to mathematics learning and instruction, particularly in light of COVID-19 school closures, and share REL resources to address concerns. The meeting also includeds future planning of professional development and coaching activities.

REL Appalachia staff shared recommended evidence-based instructional practices for students who have mathematics disabilities and difficulties as well as a process for planning high-quality, accessible math lessons. In addition, REL Appalachia staff worked with division and school leaders to explore ways to strengthen professional development and collaboration.

REL Appalachia staff will share research on accelerating Algebra 1 course taking, and insights for understanding and using practical measures in data collection for the Professional Learning Models project.

REL Appalachia staff shared updates and discussed a Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) memo the partnership is developing to guide their work. Partners also provided input and feedback on suggested activities for the project continuation.

This webinar shared research-based strategies that support all learners in preparing for algebra I, including English learner students and students who are struggling. Presenters focused on the use of visual representations to support mathematics content learning and reviewed mathematics tasks to demonstrate using visual representations to see algebraic relationships. Webinar presenters highlighted research throughout, including recommendations from Institute of Education Sciences (IES) practice guides.

The Student Success in Mathematics partnership met to use the partnership logic model related to algebra readiness and success to inform planning for a new project on professional learning models (PLMs), determine the types of data available to inform the PLM project, and review the data catalog to determine if critical data is currently available across the school divisions.

This bridge event focused on why algebra preparedness in upper elementary and middle school matters and what strategies can support struggling learners and students who are English Learners. The event was intended for teachers in grades 4 to 6 who teach mathematics and mathematics leaders who are interested in learning more about algebra preparedness.

REL Appalachia (REL AP) staff, in partnership with education leaders from districts in eastern Tennessee and representatives from the Niswonger Foundation, developed a train-the-trainer workshop series to share the most effective methods for delivering online instruction to students in grades K–12. During this first workshop in the series, REL AP staff shared strategies educators can use to support students' behavioral, emotional, and mental engagement in a virtual setting.

This was the second of three webinars on how educators and school leaders can support students experiencing trauma. REL AP staff shared concrete classroom and school-based practices to support students and educators in the context of trauma, including strategies to address implementation barriers.

Staff from REL AP, REL Northwest, and REL Southwest led a webinar on creating exceptional career and technical education (CTE) programs that prepare students for high-demand careers. REL staff shared real-world examples from three REL studies that used participant data to inform CTE program improvements that align with the needs of the 21st century workforce. The session provided participants with an opportunity to learn how states and districts across the country are using data to inform CTE program improvements and participate in break-out sessions for in-depth question and answer sessions focused on two research studies of their choice.

This was the first of three webinars on how educators and school leaders can support students experiencing trauma. REL AP staff shared research and resources to build participants' knowledge of the impacts and symptoms of trauma, as well as relevant strategies to support students who exhibit such symptoms.

Battelle for Kids and the National Rural Education Association (NREA) virtually hosted their annual forum to advance 21^st century education outcomes for rural students on November 12–13. REL AP staff and Kentucky school leaders from four rural districts shared resources and recommendations for utilizing a continuous improvement approach to administering improvement efforts in rural settings during a November 12 session entitled, “Implementing an Improvement Initiative: Strategies and Tools to Hit the Ground Running and Go the Distance.” The session provided K–12 educators and school leaders with an opportunity to learn about the continuous improvement process, hear about lessons learned from Kentucky school leaders who implemented the process, and apply learnings to real-world applications through a sample case study.

This workshop was designed to enhance REL staff's knowledge of and collaboration around measuring career readiness. Career readiness includes the knowledge, skills, and abilities to support students' transition to postsecondary education and training, and careers.

This year's Appalachian Education & Workforce Network Conference, entitled Learning and Earning: Pathways to Prosperity, focused on how high schools are preparing students to take advantage of the education and credentialing opportunities and how partnerships between education institutions and the workforce system are resulting in increased postsecondary education attainment and, more importantly, a stronger and better prepared and positioned workforce. REL Appalachia staff hosted the plenary session Building Bridges to College & Career: Nonacademic Support for Rural Students' Successful Transition with colleagues from REL Southeast and the United Way of Southwest Virginia.

This symposium, hosted by the Niswonger Foundation, focused on methods for helping students establish and reach their career goals. Talented educators from across the region shared ideas, learn with peers, and develop networks that share a common purpose of student success. REL Appalachia staff presented a session to review and discuss the research related to the importance of parent and family engagement and college knowledge skills in relation to postsecondary transitions.

REL Appalachia hosted a workshop session on June 20 presenting data on the employment and financial benefits of postsecondary education and training and sharing research-based perspectives on rural students' participation in college. Facilitators guided participants through interactive activities to reflect on their own experiences as educators and advisors and consider research-based approaches to helping more students pursue postsecondary education as a pathway towards achieving their career dreams.