Call for Speakers

Since 1971, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA) has been the trusted forum for assessment practitioners and researchers to learn and reflect upon current emerging trends in education and educational assessments. This year, CCSSO will feature a captivating plenary session on Day 2, showcasing thought-provoking ideas from seven engaging speakers. Speakers will get five minutes each to present their ideas and research, igniting curiosity and innovative thinking in the audience. The plenary session will be held on Tuesday, June 25, from 1-2 p.m. PT and the talk could (a) align with the conference theme, Designing an Effective, Coherent Assessment System for All Learners, or (b) focus on a new model of educational assessment that shifts assessment practices to encourage effective learning. Promotion of specific products is prohibited.

If you are interested in being one of the speakers, please apply by March 11, 2024. Submission instructions can be found below. Applications will be reviewed by the NCSA Program Planning Committee, and a total of 7 speakers will be selected. Following the plenary session, each speaker will also have the opportunity to lead a 60-minute breakout to expand on his or her ideas, add additional speakers and answer audience questions. We invite you to share your big ideas and build new knowledge with the audience.

Who can apply?  

Anyone! We welcome applications from anyone who will be attending NCSA. Each submission should be for one speaker only. In the event that you are chosen as a speaker, kindly note that you will be responsible for covering both your conference registration fee as well as your travel and hotel expenses.

What should you talk about?  

The critical role of assessment in our education system has been underscored as we work to support student learning. We want to hear your big ideas that build new knowledge and inspire creative thinking in the field of student assessment. The talk could (a) align with the conference theme, Designing an Effective, Coherent Assessment System for All Learners, or (b) focus on a new model of educational assessment that shifts assessment practices to encourage effective learning. Promotion of specific products is prohibited.

Application Requirements. Applicants will be asked to submit the following:   

• A five-minute video. The video should simulate the talk you would give if you were selected to present in person at NCSA. Details about how to record and upload your video can be found below. You will not be judged on the video quality or other related technology considerations because presentations at NCSA will be given in person. Rather, you will be evaluated on the content of your speech and your ability to engage the audience.

Please note that we recognize your thinking on some of these ideas may continue to evolve between now and the time of the conference. The video you submit does not have to be the exact presentation you will give if you are selected as a speaker, but should give reviewers a sense of the content you would cover. 

• Title. CCSSO will begin advertising the selected speakers prior to the conference. Please include the title of your talk.  
• Short description. Please provide 2-5 sentences describing your presentation.
• Presenter’s name, title, and bio. Please include a 150-word biography that will be shared in our program if you are selected to present. 
• Headshot. Please include a headshot CCSSO can use for promotional purposes if you are selected. Please include any photo credit if necessary.

• Breakout session. Each of the selected speakers will have the opportunity to lead a 60-minute breakout session on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. PT following the plenary session. The speaker can expand on the idea presented in the plenary session, add additional speakers and take questions from the audience.

Who selects the presenters? 

Like our process for selecting session proposals, CCSSO will work with the NCSA Program Planning Committee to review and rate applications. The NCSA Program Planning Committee is a group of assessment experts who assist CCSSO in creating a strong program for NCSA.

Timeline  

Please complete this application form no later than March 11, 2024. All applicants will be notified of their application status by April 30, 2024.    

Creating and submitting your video   

Recording your video can be as simple as using your mobile device or webcam. Applicants will be asked to record their presentations and then upload the video to an unpublished YouTube site. The site will not be made public at any time and will be used solely for purposes of reviewing your videos. 

Upload your video in YouTube Studio 

1. 1. Sign in to  YouTube Studio. 
   2. In the top-right corner, click CREATE and click Upload videos. 
   3. Select the file you’d like to upload.
   4. On the Visibility page, choose when you want your video to publish and who you want to see your video.
      • Publish: To publish your video now, choose this option and select Unlisted as your video’s  privacy setting. 
   5. Preview your changes and make sure they follow  YouTube policies, then click SAVE. 

Please click here for additional tips to upload your video.  

Share video link  

1. 1. Start watching your video on youtube.com. 
   2. Under the video, click Share. 
   3. A panel will appear, presenting different sharing options:
      • Copy the link: Click the Copy button to copy a link to the video that you can paste into your application form. June