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Insights Unveiled: Highlights from the Council of Great City Schools Curriculum and Research Conference
Author: Marketing Insights Team
Last month, a team from Bluum had the opportunity to attend the Council of Great City Schools Curriculum and Research Conference, a gathering that brought together educators, researchers, and policymakers dedicated to advancing educational equity and urban education. This year's conference theme, "From Reality to Results, Driving Improvements in Urban Student Outcomes,” underscored the urgent need to address disparities in educational outcomes and explore innovative approaches to measuring the impact of new initiatives.
Here are some of the most impactful insights and takeaways from the conference:
Targeting Success Across Student Groups
One of the most compelling discussions revolved around strategies to ensure achievement for every student and close the achievement gap through data-driven decision-making, regardless of background or circumstance. Educators and administrators shared success stories and best practices from their districts, highlighting initiatives that have effectively narrowed the achievement gap. Whether through targeted interventions, culturally responsive teaching practices, or enhanced support systems, the emphasis was on fostering environments where every student can thrive academically and socially.
Learn how Bluum can help your district close the achievement gap with targeted interventions. Schedule a free consultation today!
Closing the Gap
The conference sessions explored the complexities of the achievement gap and explored evidence-based strategies to reduce disparities in educational outcomes. From early childhood education to high school graduation rates, presenters emphasized the importance of data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement. By analyzing student performance data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other factors, educators can identify gaps and implement tailored interventions to support underserved student populations effectively.
Impact Assessment
A significant portion of the conference was dedicated to discussing methodologies for impact assessment in education, focusing on the role of technology in education to improve student outcomes. Thanks to the influx of funding from ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief), districts had the opportunity to launch new initiatives such as curriculum frameworks, high dosage tutoring, and innovative teaching and intervention methodologies. It is important to note that educators stressed the importance of rigorous evaluation and assessment. By collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data, schools can determine the effectiveness of interventions and make informed adjustments to optimize student outcomes.
Want to ensure your new initiatives are making a difference? Learn more about our research-based impact assessment framework now!
Forward Together
Beyond the formal sessions, the conference provided valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration. Educators and administrators exchanged ideas, shared resources, and formed partnerships aimed at advancing educational equity in their respective districts. The spirit of collaboration was palpable as attendees brainstormed innovative solutions and pledged to continue the dialogue beyond the conference walls.
Reflecting Forward: Actionable Insights and Steps Ahead
What was not said...
At Bluum we are acutely aware of how technology can foster equity in education. We are constantly exploring ways to ensure that all students, regardless of background or ability, have access to high-quality educational technology. The tools and digital resources we deploy into classrooms not only accommodate diverse learning styles but also empower educators to personalize instruction to meet the needs of every student. Some examples:
Reflecting on what we learned at the conference, and our role at Bluum, it really crystalizes the importance of collaboration across departments within an educational organization to maximize the impact of educational technology to improve student learning and accessibility. Educators cannot work in isolation; they must partner with stakeholders from technology departments, curriculum specialists, instructional coaches, and researchers. This collaboration ensures that technology enhances the learning experience. It is essential to foster cross-training initiatives, where curriculum coaches and technology specialists share knowledge and skills, ensuring that both pedagogy and technology remain at the forefront of educational innovation.
Discover how Bluum’s educational technology solutions can foster equity in your school. Request a personalized demo!
Questions for Reflection
- When reviewing curriculum and instruction – what digital resources are available? How can we ensure that coaches and educators are comfortable with integrating these tools into their tech ecosystem?
- How do I establish educational partnerships so that we can enhance collaborative initiatives to improve student learning?
- How does technology improve access to instruction across subsets of the student population most heavily impacted by the achievement gap (MLL, low SES, SpEd)?
- How might the accessibility features embedded within a technology device improve the learning experience for students?
- Before making a technology investment, consider whether the technology would enable new capabilities, or would instructional methods be more challenging without it?
- What is your process for measuring the impact of new initiatives? Is it straightforward, efficient, and sustainable?
- How do you regularly and authentically gather student feedback? What do they perceive as their barriers, and are you working to address those?
On the final day of the Council of Great City Schools conference we dove into everyone’s favorite “hot topic”: Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence). Many great insights were shared highlighting the power of collaboration in ensuring the effective and safe use of AI in schools. One resource that was highly recommended was the CGCS / COSN (Consortium for School Networking) Gen AI readiness checklist.
This checklist outlines the types of challenges and presented questions for reflection that should be considered by each stakeholder group related to the integration of AI. I would argue that similar consideration and reflections should be made on all initiatives that integrate instruction and technology. Considerations such as these apply to the integration of most technologies:
- Strategy
- Use policies
- Equity
- Procurement
- Data privacy
A tool like this can enhance interdepartmental collaboration and positively impact overall learning outcomes.
Final Thoughts
Partnering for Success
Learn more about how Bluum can help you measure the impact on students for each new initiative. We have developed a research-based framework that uses staff, student, and parent surveys as well as focus groups and structured observation protocols to maximize impact of each new initiative.
