Indiana State University Newsroom

Indiana State University's Bayh College of Education and the department of educational leadership will host the 37th annual 2012 School and College Law Conference on Wednesday, April 11. The event will be held in the Hulman Memorial Student Union, Dede I from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The theme of this year's conference is "In the Midst of Change: How Are Schools Adjusting to the Legislative Mandates? What Is Working and What Is Not? What Are the Next Steps?" Attendees will participate in breakout sessions, as well as a panel discussion with Indiana education leaders.

There will also be two keynote speakers at the event. Dave Emmert is the lead counsel for the Indiana School Board Association, and Thomas Wheeler II is a nationally renowned speaker and attorney, who is active in the educational changes within the Indiana education system.

Terry McDaniel, assistant professor in the department of educational leadership, said this is a crucial time for education in Indiana because of the number of recent legislation changes.

"For the first time there exists a new teacher evaluation system," he said. "Schools are now receiving a letter grade to evaluate their ability to demonstrate student achievement. A new student assessment system is being initiated. Nation-wide common core standards are being established, and teacher pay is now connected to student achievement. All these are drastic changes."

McDaniel thinks the annual conference serves as a collaboration among schools and education leaders.

"Schools are overwhelmed with the major adjustments that are being forced by the state. With little assistance from the state, schools must lean on each other for assistance," McDaniel said. "Ideas and adjustments must be shared. Schools must work together to assure success. This conference will provide the opportunity for schools to hear how other schools are adjusting to the changes and seeing what adjustments work best."

The cost of the conference is $60. To register, contact Rhonda Beecroft at 812-237-2895. Registrations must be received by Friday, April 6.

Contact: Rhonda Beecroft, student services assistant, department of educational leadership, Bayh College of Education, Indiana State University, 812-237-2895 or Rhonda.Beecroft@indstate.edu

Writer: Mallory Metheny, media relations assistant, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3773