2018 MAAP Conference

Lifelong Learning: We Inspire the Desire

It's not too early to begin thinking about our 35th Annual MAAP State Conference. Our Conference Planning Committee is busy selecting keynote speakers and making arrangements for a great time. Some things to note:

Dates

February 7th, 8th, and 9th in 2018

Rates

The conference rates for this year's conference will be $325.00 for one day, $425 for two days and $445 for three days. Early bird rates (prior to December 15, 2017), presenter discounts ($30.00) and full time college student discounts are available.

Location

Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato (the conference is scheduled to move back to the DECC in Duluth in 2019). Special conference hotel rates available at Mankato City Center Hotel and Hilton Garden Inn. Register early to receive the special rates.

Presenters

Practitioners make the best presenters! Consider sharing your wealth of knowledge. Alternative education covers a wide spectrum of educational programming and services. A large variety of presentations are needed. Presentations related to special licensure requirements, active or applied learning and/or the conference theme are also appreciated. The presenter application is a very simple process, all you need to do is:

Fill out information on the link.
Write a brief summary (50 words or less) of your presentation. If possible, include goal(s) of presentation and relevance to conference theme.
State presenters’ names, titles, and organizations as you would like them to appear in the conference brochure.
NOTE: Due to safety reasons, student presenters will be allowed at this conference only during their presentation time and the students need to be supervised by the staff that they are presenting with at all times. Student work, video productions, etc. are highly encouraged.

Here is the link to RFP for presenters

Request for Presenters

2017 MAAP Conference Handouts

Last year we experimented with a paperless conference. We asked presenters to submit copies of their handouts, and we posted them on our website. Here is what we have for 2017. We will go through the same process for 2018, and post those when available. In the meantime, you can see what the 2017 sessions were.:

2017 MAAP Conference Handouts

Presentation Ideas

MAAP members work in a variety of Learning Options Programs, such as: Contract Alternatives, ALC, ALP’s, Charter, On-Line Schools, Career & Tech, Adult Basic / GED, Mental Health. Teen Parent, Residential, Day Treatment Programs, Recovery Schools, etc. Below are some presentation ideas. Suggestions for other topics are welcome!

Admin Issues

Finances
Strategic Planning
Evaluations
Testing
Contract for Services
Record Keeping and Reporting
Student Accounting
Student and Staff Handbooks

Legislative Issues

Program Autonomy
Funding
Lobbying and Influence
Multiple Measures
Site Based Decision-Making
Working w/ Legislators and Candidates
Graduation Standards
Teacher Licensure

Child and Adolescent Issues

Labels, Stigma, Teasing, or Bullying
Self Injury
Suicide Prevention and Awareness
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender
Transition
Juvenile Justice
Restorative Justice

Curriculum and Instruction

Instructional Methods and Strategies
Instructional Materials
Research-Based Instruction
Learning Styles
Work-Base Learning
Experiential Learning
Ind Study and Project-Based Learning
Community-Based Learning
Differentiated Instruction

Cultural Competency

Culturally Appropriate Services
Culturally Specific Perspectives
Immigrant Populations
Customs
Translators

Data Based Practice

Charting
Planning
Survey instruments
Root Cause Analysis
Test interpretation
Strategic Planning
Continuous Improvement
Quality Management

Support

Advocating for Children
State, County, Local Agencies
College Prep Support
FastTRAC
Private Agencies
Probation
Drug Court
Other Learner Option Organizations

Psychological Development

Brain-Based Learning
Relationship-Based Practices
Parent-Child Interactions
Social and Emotional Development
Early Intervention
Observation, Screening, Assessment
Professional Competencies

Transition

Continuous Learning Plans
Transition Plans
School-to-Work
Independent Living Skills
Military
Peace Corps
Job Corps
College
Internships
Shadowing

Services and Resources

Resources and Funding
Community-based Services
Model Programs
Treatment Programs

Special Ed Issues

IEP Processes and Procedures
504 Processes and Procedures
Behavioral and Instructional Strategies
Positive / Strategic Based
Interventions
Rights and Responsibilities
Placement in Alternatives
Free and Approp. Public Education
Fair Pupil Dismissal Act

Leadership Skills

STARS
Student Government
Student Entrepreneurism
Political Action
Service Learning
E-lympics

Treatments and Strategies

Effective Clinical Treatment Options
Effective Alternative Treatment Options
Evidence-based Interventions
Assessments and Testing
Behavior Management
Brain/Neurobiological Research
Research and Evidence-Based Practices

Abuse, Trauma, Crisis, and Prevention

Risk Factors
Early Identification
Mental Health Screening
Dealing with Grief, Crisis, Trauma, or Disaster
Physical, Sexual, and/or Emotional Abuse
Homelessness
Navigating the Mental Health System

Other

On Line Education
Recovery Schools
Charter Schools
Day-Treatment Programs
Teen Parent Programs

Keynote Speakers

We have lined up two of our keynote speakers for this convention, Nikhil Goyal and Wayne Jennings. More to follow.

Nikhil Goyal

Nikhil Goyal is a journalist and author. He wrote his first book, One Size Does Not Fit All: A Student’s Assessment of Schools, while he was still in high school. In 2016, Goyal’s second book, Schools on Trial: How Freedom and Creativity Can Fix Our Educational Malpractice. Sir Ken Robinson called the book, “A blistering critique of the damage and injustices wrought by standardized education…” Although still young, Goyal has been interviewed on MSNBC and FOX, and he has written columns and features for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, VICE Magazine, The Nation, and other publications. Goyal has also had speaking engagements with the Clinton Global Initiative University, Google, Stanford, University of Cambridge, SXSW, LEGO Foundation, among others. In 2013, he was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. He is also a recipient of the 2013 Freedom Flame Award. He lives in New York. Nikhil Goyal is one of the youngest advocates for a better education for our learners. He follows in tradition of John Taylor Gatto, Alfie Kohn, Deborah Meier and Pasi Sahlberg, all of who have given keynote addresses at MAAP conferences. He will be traveling the furthest to attend our annual event as he a student at Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Keynote Speaker: Wayne Jennings

Wayne Jennings will be a keynote speaker at our conference this year. More details will follow.