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No Single Solution: Working Together for Equity at ESEA

During the first week of February, my MIND colleagues and I headed out to Atlanta, Georgia, for the 2020 National ESEA Conference. Educators from across the nation gathered at the World Congress Center to embrace this year’s conference theme: Together for Equity. 

Previously known as the National Title 1 Conference, the ESEA conference brings together federal program directors, administrators, and other educators. Part of the discussion includes updates on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and how schools and districts can use these funds to support their students. Different Title 1 funds can be used for different purposes.

For example, Title I, Part A: Improving Basic Programs is designed to improve the academic achievement of disadvantaged students. Our MIND colleagues were on hand to share how ST Math's visual approach makes the program accessible to learnerswhether English learners (ELs), special education, gifted, or economically disadvantaged.

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ST Math’s unique, patented approach provides students with equitable access to learning through challenging puzzles, non-routine problem solving, and informative feedback. Play the games to experience spatial-temporal problem solving.

Another part of the funds, Title I, Part A Parent and Family Engagement, is used to conduct outreach to all parents and family members and implement programs, activities, and procedures for the involvement of parents and family members.

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Many of our school partners host Family Nights with our storybook board games to involve the whole family in a highly connected experience through history, literacy, and math. Through each story, families learn and play games as they explore real events from the game's country of origin. Free for use on the site includes invites, flyers, signage, surveys, and more to ensure that parents are informed and involved in the event planning, and to help fulfill requirements for the use of the Title I funds.

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The 2020 National ESEA Conference will focus on how combined efforts will lead us to this goal of equity - to ensure that all students have access to and receive the education and resources they need and deserve.

During the conference, Director of Product of ST Math Content Ki Karou had the opportunity to present The Neuroscience of Edtech Learning. He spoke to a room of 100+ attendees about how to distinguish edtech products that sound good from those that actually increase learning.

Participants looked at neuroscience research, the way the brain learns, and the role technology plays as a way to either replicate or enhance learning in the classroom.

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The next National ESEA conference will be February 8-11, 2021 in Boston, MA. We hope to see you there!
Calli Wright

About the Author

Calli Wright was the Marketing Manager at MIND Research Institute. She loves playing and designing board games, which she often talks about on twitter @CalliWrights.

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