School accountability systems can be used to identify shared goals for student outcomes and provide a vocabulary to facilitate conversations about school improvement. Identifying clear principles that guide an accountability system can enhance data conversations and accelerate school improvement efforts.
In this webinar, WestEd accountability experts and leaders from California and Michigan will provide practical examples of how state accountability leaders and policymakers can use principles to frame and support their state’s accountability systems.
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. PT
Featured Speakers: Cindy Kazanis (California Department of Education) and Chris Janzer (Michigan Department of Education)
Moderators: Eric Crane (WestEd) and Mitch Herz (WestEd)
Register today!
Registration is Free
Participants will then work through an activity that generates reflection and action steps for building (or refining) state accountability principles.
Who Should Attend?
- Policymakers
- State Administrators
Registration is required.
Featured Speakers
Cindy Kazanis serves as the Director of the Analysis, Measurement, and Accountability Reporting Division at the California Department of Education where she oversees the implementation of the California School Dashboard, DataQuest, and directs the process for sharing education data with researchers.
During her 16 year tenure at the Department, Kazanis has held various leadership positions and led the implementation of the student-level data system, transitioned the compliance monitoring process to a web-based system, and ensured California’s public schools had the necessary technology and bandwidth for computer-based testing. Kazanis holds a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the George Washington University.
Chris Janzer is an Assistant Director within the Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability at the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). He oversees the Systems and School Accountability teams. Janzer joined MDE in 2008, and has helped develop, enhance, and implement numerous state and federal accountability and reporting systems dating from No Child Left Behind’s Adequate Yearly Progress through ESEA Flexibility to the current system under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Through his work bringing Michigan’s Parent Dashboard to life, Janzer has developed an appreciation for the challenges of making education data beyond traditional accountability metrics into meaningful information specifically for parents. He is currently working on expanding and integrating more analysis into school accountability resources. Prior to joining MDE, Janzer had experience in state and federal reporting for a local school district in Michigan. Janzer holds a Master of Public Policy degree from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Western Michigan University.
Moderators
Eric Crane, Senior Research Associate and Project Director, works with WestEd national, state, and local clients to gauge school and student performance and make the best use of the results. Crane leads assessment and accountability research as well as projects providing evaluation, data visualization and use, and consulting/technical assistance.
Mitch Herz is a School Accountability Researcher for the Assessment for Learning team at WestEd. Herz works with education agencies and other organizations on school accountability systems and data-driven decision making. Herz provides technical assistance and supports agencies looking to build, refine, or evaluate accountability methods and data use practices.