• What the Roberts Court means for school districts
  NSBA General Counsel Francisco M. Negron, Jr. will discuss recent legal developments and how they will impact school district policies and procedures.
  April 6, 2009. Guest expert: Francisco M. Negron, Jr., General Counsel, National School Boards Association
• The Obama Administration: The first 75 days
  NSBA Director of Federal Relations, Reggie Felton, will discuss the Obama Administration’s first 75 days and what that means for school boards and public education.
  April 5, 2009. Guest expert: Reginald Felton, Director of Federal Relations, National School Boards Association
• Yours, Mine, and Ours: Ways school districts can make it work with students’ personal technology devices
  With all the talk of one-to-one computing, school districts are working hard to find ways to put technology in every student’s hands. Why not let students use their own devices – laptops, ipods, voice recorders – in school to enhance their learning? Kathy Rains, Director of Technology, in the Madison (AL) City Schools will discuss the ups and downs, the challenges and opportunities, of these options and how school districts can make it work.
  October 29, 2008. Guest expert: Kathy Rains, Director of Technology, in the Madison (AL) City Schools
• It’s not all fun and games! How schools can harness educational games for learning
  It’s no secret that kids love video games. And even an recent article in the New York Times has highlighted the advantages that some games can present. But how can your school district find the best way to use these games? Log in and learn from expert Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow, the educational benefits of using gaming in the classroom.
  October 28, 2008. Guest expert: Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow
• Straight Talk on Tobacco
  Most people assume that all schools are completely tobacco free – it just seems to make too much sense not to be true! Unfortunately, the truth is more complicated than that, and according to the latest available school health data from the Centers for Disease ControlHealth-Problems-During-Travel and Prevention, only 58 percent of states, 55.4 percent of districts, and 63.6 percent of schools prohibit all tobacco use in all locations at all times. So, there is plenty of room for improvement in making all schools tobacco-free! Join NSBA school health experts, Karen Lewis and Brenda Greene for an online discussion March 31, at 12:45 ET, to get the full scoop on tobacco free schools and to learn more about what school districts can do to make campuses tobacco free.
  March 31, 2008. Guest experts: Karen Lewis and Brenda Greene, NSBA, Alexandria, Va.
• The Tipping Point on School Vouchers: Has Time Run Out for the Privatization Movement?
  Although well funded and with a vocal, albeit small network of supporters, the school voucher movement has run into troubles of late. From another crushing defeat of vouchers by voters in Utah, to a slew of recent research debunking private schools’ purported superiority in raising student achievement, to cautionary words from longtime voucher advocates downplaying vouchers’ alleged competitive benefits for public education, it has been a rough stretch for proponents of spending taxpayer dollars on private school tuition. While voucher proposals remain on the table in some states and in Congress, have the best opportunities for enacting new programs passed? Join NSBA Director of Federal Affairs Marcus Egan for an online discussion Sunday, March 30 at 1 p.m. ET to get the latest information on research, legislation and the political landscape impacting vouchers.
  March 30, 2008. Guest expert: Marcus Egan, Director of Federal Affairs, NSBA, Alexandria, Va.
• Navigating the Legal Landmines Around New Technologies
  New technologies such as cell camera phones and online teen hangouts are prompting serious discussions about their use and abuse. Recent examples, such as students posting surreptitiously taken teacher videos onto YouTube, have ignited concern about the presence of these technologies in and out of the classroom. What are the legal issues emerging from these new technologies? How schools can balance First Amendment protections with student safety? How should school board policies adapt to these technological advances?
  October 18, 2007. Guest expert: Thomas Hutton, senior staff attorney, NSBA, Alexandria, Va.
• What are the Educational Benefits of Social Networking for Students and Teachers?
  New research by NSBA and Grunwald Associates shows that teens are doing more than hanging out in social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook. In fact, 70 percent of online students report discussing education-related topics such as college or college planning, learning outside of school, and careers; and 50 percent of online students say they talk specifically about schoolwork. But how can schools harness this engaging technology tool in the classroom to increase learning for students?
  October 17, 2007. Guest expert: Will Richardson, author of Weblogg-ed blog and Learner-in-Chief at Connective Learning
• School Climate
  School climate is a critical factor in the success of our students. In a recent groundbreaking study, “Where We Teach,” by NSBA’s Council of Urban Boards of Education, teachers and administrators candidly expressed their perceptions on safety, expectations for student success, professional judgment, parent involvement, and bullying. Principal Investigator and CUBE Chair Dr. Brian K. Perkins will share why all schools need to pay attention to school climate and will discuss the study’s most important findings.
  April 16, 2007. Guest expert: Dr. Brian Perkins, CUBE Chair, New Haven Public Schools, New Haven, Conn.
• Student Drug Testing
  As more schools move towards random student drug testing, school districts find themselves in an interesting dilemma. What should policies cover in drug testing students? How far can a school go to keep its students safe, yet protect their privacy? Find out how to navigate through the quagmire by tuning into NSBA’s online discussion on the legal implications of student drug testing. NSBA Staff Attorney Lisa Soronen will provide expert information and answer your questions.
  April 15, 2007. Guest expert: Lisa Soronen, staff attorney, NSBA, Alexandria, Va.
• Postings, Protection, and Policies: What School Leaders Need to Know About Online Teen Hangouts
  Should school district leaders be concerned when teens create their own web pages on social networking sites, such as MySpace and Facebook? Are there real dangers in posting inappropriate comments? How should school board policies adequately address these new issues? With the dramatic growth of students who use these social sites to express themselves and interact with their friends online, educators need to learn more about the complexities of this medium. With high profile cases making headlines, it’s critical that educators are prepared to deal with the dangers and understand the benefits of social networking.
  November 8, 2006. Guest expert: Kimberly Jessie, Associate Attorney, Bracewell & Giuliani, Dallas, Tex.
• The Straight Story on High School Graduation Rates
  How many American students are actually earning a high school diploma? With new reports out this week by the National Center for Education Statistics and Education Week, the answer depends on who’s crunching the numbers. Some say 70 percent, others say it’s closer to 83 percent, while the U.S. Census reports that it’s 75 percent. The differences are even greater between what some states report and other analysts calculate, a difference that can be more than 20 percentage points. Find out why the experts disagree and what you can do at the local level to calculate graduation rates that tell the whole story.
  June 22, 2006. Guest expert: Patte Barth, director, Center for Public Education, NSBA, Alexandria, Va.
• School Climate Inside Today’s Urban Schools: Bullying, Safety, Trust, and More
  Research shows that school climate is a major factor in the academic performance of students. A new study that surveyed nearly 32,000 students in 15 urban districts across the country takes a close look at how they perceive the rate of bullying, how safe they feel in school, whether they trust and respect their teachers, and much more. Join our guest expert to find out why you need to know about your school climate–no matter whether your district is urban, rural, or suburban–and key findings from the report that will help you better understand these issues.
  April 10, 2006. Guest expert: Brian Perkins, chairman, Council of Urban Boards of Education; principal investigator, Urban School Climate Survey; chair, New Haven School Board, New Haven, Conn.
• Exploring the Free Speech Rights of Students and Teachers
  What are the speech rights of students and teachers in school? Where is the line to be drawn in their expression of their personal beliefs and opinions? Recent news events such as the student walkout to protest immigration legislation, students being disciplined for off-campus speech, and a Colorado teacher lecture comparing Bush to Hitler have put this issue front and center in your schools. Our legal expert will discuss recent court rulings and take your questions about how far students and teachers can go in expressing themselves and how far schools can go in restricting that expression.
  April 9, 2006. Guest expert: Tom Hutton, attorney, NSBA, Alexandria, Va.
• What You Need to Prepare Your Students for the 21st Century
  Are your schools adequately preparing your students to enter the workforce with the kinds of skills needed to succeed? What will it take to get them ready? Guest expert Ken Kay will discuss these questions as he shares results of a nationwide study of 21st century learning skills. Kay will also discuss how education leaders can create the right policies and programs to ensure their district is on track to a provide 21st century learning opportunities.
  April 8, 2006. Guest expert: Ken Kay, president of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, Washington, D.C.
• Intelligent Design: Curricular or Religious Issue?
  Schools face increasing attempts to inject the biblical perspective on the origins of life into the classroom. Can creationism be taught as an alternative to evolution in science class? In a philosophy or world religion course? Is it a student’s right to know? A matter of teacher free speech? Prohibited by the establishment clause? In responding to these attempts, schools must understand the legal, social, educational and political implications of the decisions they make on this hot button issue. Read this online discussion about the controversies schools are confronting and how they can handle this issue in an educationally sound and legally responsible manner.
  April 7, 2006. Guest expert: Naomi Gittins, senior staff attorney, NSBA, Alexandria, Va.
• What is the Place of Virtual Online Learning in Our Schools?
  
  Through a growing number of online courses and virtual schools, more students are learning in cyberspace. But why should schools embrace these new technologies when the jury is still out on their impact on student achievement? And what criteria should schools use when setting up online classes for their students? Read the transcript of this lively online discussion from NSBA’s T+L² Conference in Denver with moderating expert Liz Pape, president and CEO of the Virtual High School, a nonprofit collaborative of more than 250 high schools in the U.S. and abroad.
  October 26, 2005. Guest expert: Liz Pape, president and CEO of the Virtual High School.
• Preview of the New Supreme Court Session
  During its session that opens on October 3, the Supreme Court will welcome two new justices, including a new chief justice, and tackle several cases related to education. National School Boards Association staff attorneys Naomi Gittins, Tom Hutton, and Lisa Soronen will take your questions and preview pending cases in this online discussion scheduled for September 21 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. ET. Get the inside experts’ view on the impact of the two Court vacancies, First Amendment rights of school employees, and the role of parents in establishing individual education plans under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act.
  September 21, 2005. Guest experts: NSBA staff attorneys Naomi Gittins, Tom Hutton, and Lisa Soronen.

Podcasts

• Ken Kay: 21st Century Skills as a Transformation in K-12 Education
  Technology Leadership Network’s Executive Briefing: Future Vision: Helping Your Students Succeed in a Changing World. Get the latest update from Ken Kay as he shares the work of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, a national coalition of educators and corporate leaders focused on the policy decisions necessary to implement the group’s recommendations.
  April 7, 2006. Ken Kay. Duration: 1:06:34 | Format: audio/x-m4a (iTunes suggested)
• David Warlick: 21st Century Literacy
  David Warlick is Director of The Landmark Project and a well-known speaker and blogger. This interview at NSBA’s Technology Leadership Network meeting recaps some of the important points that David covered in his opening keynote presentation.
  April 7, 2006. David Warlick. Duration: 12:38 | Format: audio/mpeg
• Reflections from the TLN meeting
  Participants in the Technology Leadership Network meeting took some time at the end of the day and shared some reflections about the presentations they saw and discussions they had.
  April 10, 2006. Duration: 5:18 | Format: audio/mpeg