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Webinar Series

ACT Strategic Policy Symposium

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Join fellow decision makers and expert panelists for this webinar to support students’ education and career goals and help communities thrive.

As part of ACT’s commitment to empowering educators, policy leaders, and decision-makers with the knowledge and strategies to guide students toward college and career success, we are excited to introduce the ACT Strategic Policy Symposium. This series of quarterly briefing sessions aims to foster an ongoing, proactive conversation on bridging gaps in education policy and higher education leadership. 

The ACT Strategic Policy Symposium will address key policy issues in education, focusing on efficiency, student success, economic development, and the value of higher education. Each session will explore specific topics and provide recommendations for policymakers and higher education institutions. Expert speakers and thought leaders will share insights and strategies to drive meaningful change in the educational landscape. 

Webinar 1 | Rethinking Assessments: Improve Efficiency and Outcomes for States, Schools, and Students 

On-Demand from Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024

Explore how states and institutions can leverage nationally-recognized assessments — such as the ACT and ACT WorkKeys — to meet multiple goals, including: state/federal accountability, credit for prior learning, identifying student needs and supports, and informing how limited resources are allotted to maximize successful outcomes. 
 
The conversation around testing has often been clouded by negativity, but the problem isn’t testing itself, rather that testing is too often inefficient and redundant, providing little value to students, educators, policymakers, and schools. This webinar will show you how to rethink your approach, using assessments strategically to ensure that testing is meaningful, beneficial, and consistent. 

 

dr-ramon-blakely

Dr. Ramon Blakley, Director of Recruitment at The University of Texas at Austin

Colin-Dingler

Colin Dingler, Principal Policy Analyst at ACT 

Audra-Ahumada

Audra Ahumada, Program Director for State Partnerships at ACT

Webinar 2 | Preparing the COVID Generation for Postsecondary Success  

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, 2:00 p.m. ET 

Explore the challenges affecting student readiness for college and careers. Ongoing learning disruptions from COVID-19, combined with grade inflation, have made it difficult to accurately assess student preparedness. This session will examine how to identify and address these learning gaps, offering insights into the long-term effects of learning loss and practical strategies to help students regain their footing and succeed on their postsecondary paths. 

Discover how tools like the ACT test, PreACT, and WorkKeys provide critical insights into student readiness, ensuring students have the knowledge and skills needed to succeed beyond high school. Gain actionable strategies for guiding students toward success and take a proactive approach to improving outcomes for your institutions. 

 

John Lantz

Dr. John Lantz, Director of Higher Education at the Hunt Institute

Tom Swiderski

Tom Swiderski, Research Associate at the Education Policy Initiative at Carolina

Sarah Crittenden Fuller

Sarah Crittenden Fuller, Research Associate Professor at the Education Policy Initiative at Carolina

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