The No Child Left Behind Act: Challenges and Opportunities

One year after the No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law, what challenges and opportunities are districts and schools facing? How are districts and schools implementing the legislation and what have been the results? How are state education departments providing technical assistance to identified schools, and is this aspect of the legislation working? What progress is being made to ensure that all teachers in Title 1 schools will be "highly qualified" by the 2005-06 school year? How will districts keep pace with funding demands? This session will give you a better understanding about the No Child Left Behind Act and what is happening nationally during its implementation.

Raymond McNulty, Vermont Department of Education, Montpelier; Tom Houlihan, Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, DC

Understanding By Design and Differentiated Instruction: Partners in Classroom Success

Effective teachers begin with thoughtful plans, designed to optimize the understanding, knowledge, and skill of all learners. They then develop instructional routines that will assist each student in growing as much as possible in expanding that knowledge, understanding, and skill. Differentiated Instruction guides teachers in teaching curriculum and adapting instruction to best meet the needs of each learner. This session will examine the important connections between the Understanding by Design and Differentiated Instruction models.

Grant Wiggins, Monmouth Junction, NJ; Jay McTighe, Relearning By Design, Columbia, MD; Carol Ann Tomlinson, University of Virginia, Charlottesville