Concurrent 45 min

Leading the Way: How States and Local Leaders Can Move the Needle for Equity & Excellence

Friday, November 14, 2025

9:15 AM - 10:00 AM ET

Location: Convention Center, Ballroom BC

Grade Level: Pre-K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Professionals

Mark Schwingle, PhD (he/him/his)

Education Consultant
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Sneha Shah-Coltrane

Senior Director, Advanced Learning & Gifted Education and Academic Policy
NC Department of Public Instruction
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Short Description: State Education Agencies (SEAs) play a crucial role in addressing equity and excellence for all advanced learners. The Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted have created “An SEA Framework to Realizing Equity and Excellence in Gifted Education.” The framework is designed to build educational environments where every student's assets are seen, valued, respected, and grow over time.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will better understand the major factors an SEA could potentially impact to support equity and excellence initiatives locally.
Participants will better understand the opportunities an SEA and district leaders may take together to support equity and excellence initiatives locally.
Participants will be able to evaluate how work happening at the SEA level could be applied within their LEA and how to analyze the results of this important work.