8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Registration & Breakfast

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Welcome Remarks

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Session I:

The Arizona We Want, Cultivating the Civic Engagement We Need

Latinos comprise 31% of the population in Arizona and ensuring their political, economic, and educational success is critical to the future prosperity of the state. By 2020, 68% of all jobs in Arizona will require a postsecondary degree. In order to meet the economic and civic needs of the state, every child and student needs access to quality educational services and systems. Education has the power to serve as that vehicle that can mobilize and engage communities. This session provided an overview of key indicators across the state that highlight policies and practices that can enhance the long-term opportunities for Latinos and all of Arizona.

Chair:
Hon. Steve M. Gallardo, Supervisor, Maricopa County, Arizona; Former Board Member, NALEO

• Ms. Darcy Renfro, Senior Director, The Arizona We Want, Center for the Future of Arizona
PRESENTATION

Additional Resources:
The Invisible Ones
The Invisible Ones: Policy Brief

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Session 2:

Foundations of Early Childhood Education

There is growing research demonstrating the short and long-term benefits of early childhood education for children, families, and communities. Evidence shows that a child’s brain has the greatest potential to grow by the age of three and it is in these first three years of life that children’s brains must be exposed to quality interactions to stimulate and strengthen brain development, an important precursor of school readiness. This session provided an overview of brain development research and will also highlight the importance of utilizing practices that are responsive to diverse families and that support key cognitive and emotional functions in young children.

• Dr. Sarah R. Lytle, Director of Outreach and Education, Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, University of Washington
PRESENTATION

Additional Resources:
The Heckman Equation
Arizona Early Childhood Development

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Luncheon Program

President’s Address:
Hon. Michele Martinez, Councilmember, City of Santa Ana, California; NALEO President

Keynote Remarks:
Hon. Ruben Gallego, Member, U.S. House of Representatives (D-AZ)

Luncheon Remarks:
Dr. Timothy L. Ogle, Executive Director, Arizona School Boards Association

• Ms. Tracey Benson, Associate Executive Director, Arizona School Boards Association

Additional Resources:
Arizona School Board Association

1:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Session III:

Serving the Needs of Diverse Families – Tackling Toxic Stress

Infants exposed to healthy and nurturing environments develop the foundation needed for positive brain development and school readiness. Exposure to factors such as poverty, abuse, neglect, and family separation can trigger the development of toxic stress in young children and can have lasting emotional, social, and cognitive effects. Recognizing the limitations of a child’s environment is important, but strides can be made when the strengths their families and communities hold are uplifted to tackle the factors associated with toxic stress. This session provided an overview of the research on toxic stress and ways in which policymakers can develop policies to support healthy environments to mitigate these factors while strengthening family, community, and cultural connections.

Chair:
Hon. Fernando J. Shipley, Regional Chairman, Gila Regional Council; First Things First; Board Treasurer, NALEO

• Ms. Andi Fetzner, Trainer & Consultant, Arizona Trauma Institute
PRESENTATION

• Ms. Elizabeth Barker Alvarez, Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, First Things First
PRESENTATION

Additional Resources:
Adverse Childhood Experiences
The Impact of Early Adversity on Children’s Development
The Science of Early Childhood Development

3:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Closing Remarks & Evaluations

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Opening Reception

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Registration & Breakfast

• Ms. Ofelia Medina, Director of State Civic Engagement Policy, NALEO Educational Fund
PRESENTATION

Additional Resources:
Decennial Census
Arizona Census
Latino Voters at Risk
Voting Rights Act
The New American Success Act of 2015

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Session IV:

Addressing Arizona’s Educator Shortage: Strategies to Ensure They Come and are Supported to Teach

In order to ensure students have access to rigorous and enriching curriculum, the educator workforce must be fully prepared and supported to provide those opportunities in every classroom across the state. According to the Arizona Department of Education, in 2014, nearly 75% of district and charter schools in about 80 districts reported one to five educator vacancies. Educators need opportunities for on-going professional development and support systems to become effective practitioners. This session highlighted policies and strategies that can be strengthened to better recruit, retain, and diversify the educator workforce.

• Dr. David Garcia, Associate Professor, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University
PRESENTATION

• Dr. Ramona Mellott, Dean, College of Education, Northern Arizona University
PRESENTATION

• Ms. Roberta Furger, Director of Communication Outreach, Senior Writer, Learning Policy Institute
PRESENTATION

Additional Resources:
Educator Retention and Recruitment
Loan Forgiveness and Service Scholarships
State of Racial Diversity in the Educator Workforce
Teacher Residencies

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Session V:

Beyond Math, Reading, and Writing: Preparing Students and Families with the Skills for Post-Secondary Success

Exposure to rigorous curriculum and enriching opportunities in K-12, combined with the successful use of formal and informal educational networks, can strengthen the academic prospects of students. To be ready for a post-secondary education and to successfully navigate an academic setting it is critical that students in K-12 internalize the importance of soft skills like relationship building, mastering studying skills and time management as well as participating in extracurricular and internship activities. Understanding the benefits that come from their engagement in these types of practices can help promote the social capital and mobility of students, while better preparing them to compete and succeed in their future life and careers. In this session, policymakers learned about best practices and model partnerships spanning K-12, higher education, and workforce initiatives that can successfully equip students and families for post-secondary success.

Chair: 
Hon. Jesus Rubalcava, Board President, Gila Bend Unified School District, Arizona

• Dr. David W. Johnson, Senior Research Analyst, University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, Urban Education Institute, University of Chicago
PRESENTATION

• Dr. Teresa Granillo, Executive Director, Con Mi MADRE, Texas
PRESENTATION

• Ms. Toni Badone, Superintendent, Yuma Union High School District, Arizona
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1 | 2

Additional Resources:
Non-Cognitive Factors and Context

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Luncheon Program

• Hon. Martín Quezada, Arizona State Senator; President, Arizona Latino School Board Association

• Hon. Stephanie Parra, Board Member, Phoenix Union High School District; Vice President, Arizona Latino School Board Association

Additional Resources:
Arizona Latino School Board Association
Arizona Latino School Board Association: An Overview
ALSBA Membership

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Session VI:

Barriers to College Completion: Addressing Developmental Education

Nationally, Latino students are graduating from high school at the highest rates seen in years, yet they are graduating underprepared to enroll in college credit bearing courses once they enter post-secondary institutions. As reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures, over 41% of Latino students graduating from high school nationwide require a certain amount of developmental education, costing $2.3 billion dollars in spending each year. Although developmental courses are designed to help students reach college-level preparedness, oftentimes they become a barrier to college completion. This session provided policymakers with a deeper understanding of effective institutional policies and practices that accelerate students’ completion of developmental courses that can lead them to pursue their goal of obtaining a college degree.

Chair:
Hon. Elizabeth C. Archuleta, Supervisor, Coconino County; Board Member, NALEO

• Dr. Henry L. Fernandez, Vice President, Complete College America; Former Board Member, NALEO Educational Fund
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1

Additional Resources:
Developmental Education
Accelerated Developmental Education
Remedial Placement

2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Break

2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Session VII:

Developing Strategies for Post-Secondary and Workforce Partnerships

According to the Center on Education and Workforce at Georgetown University, 55 million job openings will be available in the U.S. economy and 30% will require some type of postsecondary degree by 2020. In order to meet current and projected workforce demands, students must have access to opportunities that will facilitate the completion of a postsecondary degree. Market sector and workforce partnerships hold the potential to increase students’ knowledge, skills, and competencies needed for long-term career progression. This session focused on demonstrating the importance of developing policies and creating cross-sector partnerships to better align post-secondary institutions to meet the current and future workforce needs of Arizona.

Chair:
Hon. Lorenzo Sierra, Councilmember, City of Avondale, Arizona

• Mr. Neil Ridley, State Initiative Director, Center on Education and the Workforce, Georgetown University
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1

• Ms. Sheila Paul Shedd, Associate Director, Workforce Development, Maricopa Community Colleges
PRESENTATION

Additional Resources:
Arizona Manufacturing Partnership
Sector Partnerships
Arizona Mayors’ Education Dashboard

4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Closing Remarks & Evaluation