*Dr. Tom Guskey is coming to Des Moines (Thank you, Drake University!)
Target audience? K-12 educators and administrators
When? June 18, 2014
Cost? $150
Description:
As educators align instruction and assessments with the Common Core standards for student learning, most find they also must change their grading policies and revise their report card. Learn how to develop new standards-based grading policies and practices that are better for ALL students, gain the support of parents, and don’t create excessive work for teachers.


**The Iowa Competency Based Education Conference is returning to Des Moines (Thank you, Iowa ASCD!)
Target audience? K-12 educators and administrators, higher education
When? June 23-24, 2014
Cost? $250 for Iowa ASCD members and $295 for non-members of Iowa ASCD.
Description:
Come learn how students can learn and demonstrate competencies which will endure throughout time. CBE provides a strong framework for teachers and administrators to understand the Iowa Core and ensure students are college, career, and citizenship ready.

 Among the featured speakers include Rose Colby, author of Off the Clock and Tom Vander Ark, author of Getting Smart.  Several Iowans will be joining the conversation and sharing their expertise, including the pilot schools of the CBE collaborative.


 ***A few Iowa practitioners are leading a two-day standards-based grading workshop in Cedar Rapids (Thank you, Grant Wood AEA!)
Target audience? Secondary teachers and administrators (pre-service students and faculty welcome)
When? June 30 and July 1, 2014
Cost? $80 or $160, depending on credit
Description:
This course will highlight grading and assessment practices described in contemporary educational literature. Beliefs about assessment, homework and grading will be challenged and refined as they relate to the Iowa Core Curriculum characteristic of effective instruction, assessment for learning. Participants will learn how to grade based on state standards.

Will June 2014 be one of the most exciting months ever for Iowa educators? 

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*Dr. Guskey might be the godfather of standards-based grading, if there ever was one.
**For what it's worth, I believe there are distinct similarities and differences between standards-based grading and competency-based education.
***It's a shameless plug: I am one of those two guys.  I hope you'll consider attending the other two events, but I think we'll be involving participants in a hefty dose of standards-based grading at the classroom level.  It's the cheapest option and in my opinion, the biggest bang for your buck.