1. Notes from Doug Sovde, Director, Instructional Supports & Educator Engagements

Bio here.
Essentially, this:

• The conversation needs not to be about making a slick test, but about what works best for kids and teachers. 
• He is worried about the viability of our democracy and "our survival"; asks: will the standards make our democracy better? 
• Discussion about close reading, arguments based on evidence. 
• With PARCC, changes --  first there were 4 required assessments, now there are two and two optional. Their first step has been domain analysis -- content area examination. 
• Item development -- next. Will involve close examination of prose, go deep into constructed response, evidence based elective response, tech- based constructed response (for ELA).