.png){kind=small}
Featured Speakers | Hill Visits | Conference Schedule | Conference Rates | Registration | Hotel Information | Sessions | Call for Presenters | Sponsor & Exhibit | FAQ |
Featured Speakers
The real-life subject of the movie Freedom Writers starring Hilary Swank, Erin Gruwell and her students wrote The Freedom Writers Diary, a New York Times bestseller that chronicles Erin’s extraordinary journey with 150 high school students who dubbed themselves the “Freedom Writers” in homage to the Freedom Riders of the Civil Rights Movement.
Erin Gruwell
Dwayne Reed
Dwayne Reed
Dwayne Reed
Thursday, June 22
Teacher and educational activist Dwayne Reed promotes a message of love and equity in education. After seeing viral success with the release of his educational music video, "Welcome to the 4th Grade," he’s been on a mission to convince the world that relationships mean everything in education, and that every child, no matter their race or social status, deserves a fair chance at a quality education.
Dwayne Reed
Dwayne Reed
Dwayne Reed
Friday, June 23
Friday, June 23
An instructional coach, Monica Washington supports teachers and education leaders in making positive shifts in instruction and leadership. The 2014 Texas Teacher of the Year, a 2015 Milken Unsung Hero Fellow, and a 2015 NEA Foundation Global Fellow, Monica blogs for Education Week and wrote the most read and shared opinion post for 2017.
Monica Washington
Dwayne Reed
Dwayne Reed
Dwayne Reed
Saturday, June 24
Hill Visits are Back!
New DIY Guide is Available
Download the DIY Visit Guide to meet with your Senator or Representative in person on Capitol Hill while you are at the National Schools to Watch Conference!
Conference Schedule
Thursday, June 22
9:30 - 11:30 am
General Session - Erin Gruwell, Freedom Writers
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Lunch on your own
1:00 - 3:45 pm
Breakout Sessions
4:00 - 5:30 pm
STW Awards Gala - New Schools
Friday, June 23
9:30 - 11:30 am
General Session - Dwayne Reed
1:00 - 3:45 pm
Breakout Sessions
4:00 - 5:30 pm
STW Awards Gala - Redesignating Schools
Saturday, June 24
8:30 - 9:00 am
Continental Breakfast
9:00 - 11:30 am
General Session - Monica Washington
Schedule is subject to change.
SCHOOLS TO WATCH
AWARD CELEBRATIONS
GALAS ARE BACK!
NEW AND REDESIGNATING
SCHOOLS TO WATCH
will be honored LIVE in D.C. in June!
Bring your team, dress to the nines, and celebrate your success!
Thursday, June 22 | 4:00 - 5:30 pm
NEW SCHOOLS TO WATCH
Friday, June 23 | 4:00 - 5:30 pm
REDESIGNATING SCHOOLS TO WATCH
Early Bird
Register before January 31, 2023
Schools to Watch: $379 per person
Non-STW: $399
Standard Rate
Register between
February 1, 2023 and April 15, 2023
Schools to Watch: $429 per person
Non-STW: $469 per person
Don't Be Late!
Register between
April 15, 2023 and the day of the event
Schools to Watch: $479 per person
Non-STW: $499 per person
ALL ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE AT:
Crystal Gateway Marriott
(not Crystal City)
1700 Richmond Hwy.
Arlington, VA 22202
Special Room Rate: $250 plus taxes & fees
Make your hotel reservations online
CALL FOR PRESENTERS
For many teams, one of the best parts of the Schools to Watch recognition is sharing something that YOUR school does exceptionally well. What program or initiative stands out? What are you most proud of? What can you teach other schools from across the country to replicate at their sites?
Please submit a presentation idea that is interactive, useful, and fun! Resource sharing (of templates, example schedules, etc.) is encouraged. Sessions are 45 minutes in length.
New This Year! Main Presenters Save $100
Once the presentation is accepted, a discount code will be sent to the main presenter. If you've already registered, we will refund you.
Frequently asked questions
-
What types of membership are available?There are three types of membership: • Advocating Member (Individual) : $39 • Contributing Member (Individual) : $69 • Institutional Member (School) : $99/year or $275/3-years
-
What is the renewal schedule for Memberships?Membership renewals occur on the date of the initial enrollment. For Institutional Memberships, schools have the option of selecting a one-year ($99) or a three-year ($275) Institutional Membership.
-
What is Institutional Membership in the National Forum?Institutional Membership with the Forum is a whole-school designation available to schools that believe in and support the mission and vision of the Forum and that include one or more of the following grades – 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.
-
Why must a school have one or more of the following grades – 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 to apply for Institutional Membership?Grades 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 comprise the middle grades, and the vast majority of young adolescents (those students aged 10-15) are in these grades. Since the middle grades and young adolescents are the foci of the Forum’s work, it made sense that the Forum should limit (at least initially) Institutional Membership to those schools with one or more of the middle grades.
-
Can schools that are not Schools to Watch be granted Institutional Membership?Yes, but they must believe in and support the Mission and Vision of the Forum and include one or more of the following grades – 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.
-
Can schools that are not eligible to be designated as Schools to Watch be granted Institutional Membership?Yes, but they must believe in and support the Mission and Vision of the Forum and include one or more of the following grades – 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.
-
How is the Forum’s Institutional Membership different from its other memberships?Institutional Membership differs in several ways from currently existing memberships (Contributing Memberships and Advocating Memberships): • First, Institutional Membership is a whole-school membership while the Forum’s two other memberships are for individuals only. • Second, the Institutional Membership targets schools that believe in the Forum’s Mission and Vision and have one or more of the following grades – 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9; Contributing and Advocating Memberships are for individuals who may or may not be in a School to Watch but who wish to be more active and involved in the Forum’s effort to “accelerate middle grades reform”. • Third, the Institutional Membership category provides the Forum with a mechanism to engage and communicate with a broader constituency of middle-level practitioners (nationally and internationally) than do the existing membership classifications.
-
What are the benefits of being an Institutional Member?The benefits of being an Institutional Member include: • The personal satisfaction of supporting the Forum in its efforts to speak with a common voice to leverage research, policy, leadership, and replicable practices to drive middle grades reform (being part of a “movement”) • Opportunities to give back to the profession (paying it forward) • Periodic reports on Forum projects to accelerate middle-grades reform • Special rates for Forum-sponsored activities • Access to all Forum publications, reports, and white papers • Access to a national network of middle-level schools that shares a common philosophy, mission, and vision.
-
Is it possible for one person to have both a Contributing Membership and an Institutional Membership?Technically no, since Institutional Membership is available only to an eligible school and not to an individual. That being said, a person could be both a Contributing Member and a member of a school with an Institutional Membership.
-
Must a School to Watch become an Institutional Member?Not at this time, but given the benefits of membership it is highly recommended that every School to Watch be an Institutional Member of the Forum.
-
Can other than public schools be Institutional Members?Yes, as long as they believe in and support the Mission and Vision of the Forum and that include one or more of the following grades – 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.
-
Can an organization other than a school (e.g., philanthropic organization and state organization) have an Institutional Membership?No. Institutional Memberships are only for schools that believe in and support the Mission and Vision of the Forum and include one or more of the following grades – 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.