8:30 am – 11:00 am EDT Dirksen Senate Office Building Capitol Hill Washington, DC
Event:
Sponsored by
Senator Daniel Akaka
Speakers Include
Senator Daniel Akaka (HI)
Senator Daniel Inouye (HI)
Daniel Hamada, Superintendent, Kaua’i Complex Area (Kaua’i, HI)
Dr. Margarita Calderón, Research Scientist, Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
With low literacy rates, poor performance on national and international assessments, low graduation rates, and high postsecondary remediation rates, it is clear that the majority of older students—particularly low-income, minority, and English language learner students—are not being adequately prepared by America’s secondary schools for college, work, or citizenship. Yet in middle and high schools across the country, innovative leaders are using a number of strategies to beat the odds, keeping students enrolled and engaged, and graduating them prepared for success.
Join us for an informative look at how one district—Kaua’i Area Complex in Hawaii—has leveraged quality instruction to improve the achievement of poor students and English language learners. Interestingly, at Kappa High School, low-income students outperformed high-income students after receiving targeted, intensive intervention. Superintendent Daniel Hamada will share the secrets of Kauai’s success. In addition, Dr. Margarita Calderón will share information on her highly successful program, Expediting Comprehension for English Language Learners (ExC-ELL), used in secondary schools across the country. Calderón has developed a research-based approach to expediting reading comprehension that results in higher test scores, not just for ELLs, but for all students.
This discussion will focus on the challenges related to English language learners faced by secondary school students, parents, and educators; policies and practices to overcome those challenges; and implications for federal policy to improve America’s secondary schools.
I. Welcome & Introduction
Bob Wise, President, Alliance for Excellent Education
II. Remarks
The Honorable Daniel Akaka, United States Senator from Hawaii
III. Presentation
Daniel Hamada, Superintendent, Kaua’i Area Complex
Dr. Margarita Calderon, Research Scientist, Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD) 
Video (Streaming)
Project ExC-ELL PowerPoint Presentation
IV. Remarks
The Honorable Daniel Inouye, United States Senator from Hawaii
NOTE: Program Disruption
Video (Streaming)
The Dirksen Senate Office Building experienced a power outage at this point during Senator Daniel Inouye’s remarks. The Senator finished his anecdote and the meeting adjourned for five minutes until power was restored. At that point, the program began again, with the continuation of Dr. Margarita Calderón’s presentation. The Alliance for Excellent Education apologizes for the inconvenience.
III. Presentation (cont…)
Dr. Margarita Calderon, Research Scientist, Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
V. Question & Answer
Question & Answer Session
VI. Closing
Bob Wise, President, Alliance for Excellent Education