Research Forum

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and VLDS partner agencies host a yearly Research Forum with attendance by universities, school divisions, partner agencies, legislation, nonprofits, and the private sector. We welcome you to view the past webinar and video series. You can also check back here for information on the next annual event when the time comes!​

Research Forum Year:
2024 Virginia Longitudinal Data System (VLDS) Research Forum:
Taking Longitudinal Data beyond Time: From Data to Action

Registration Information

Registration is now open


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If you will require overnight lodging, consider booking at The Westin. We are offering special event rates!

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Event Summary

We are excited to announce our fourth annual VLDS Research Forum. We will bring researchers, legislators, agency leaders, advocacy groups, and state/local policymakers together to explore how longitudinal cross-data can be accessible, understandable, and actionable to make an impact in decisions and policies. This event will provide an overview of the VLDS data system, serve as an opportunity to engage with the larger VLDS community, and learn more about how it is being used across the state of Virginia.

On-site registration will open at 7:30 AM. The VLDS Research Forum will conclude on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 3:00 PM.

Conference Venue: The Westin Richmond; 6631 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230

Agenda at a Glance

This schedule is tentative and subject to change.

October 29, 2024
7:30-9:00 AM: Registration and Breakfast Blue Ridge Ballroom
9:00-9:15 AM: Welcome and Opening Remarks Blue Ridge Ballroom
9:15-10:00 AM:  Keynote Address - Dan Goldhaber, Director, CALDER, American Institutes of Research & Director, CEDR, University of Washington Blue Ridge Ballroom
10:00-11:00 AM: Virginia State Policy Leaders Panel

  • James Williams, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Social Services
  • Michael Peterson, CIO, Virginia Works
Blue Ridge Ballroom
11:00 AM-12:00 PM: VLDS Participating Agency Demonstration Booths - Featured Agencies:

  • State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
  • Virginia Department of Education
  • Virginia Works
  • Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
  • Office of Children's Services
  • Department of Social Services
  • Virginia Department of Health Professions
 Pre-function Area
12:00-1:15 PM: Networking Lunch (provided) Blue Ridge Ballroom
1:15-2:15 PM: VLDS Breakout Session 1
  • The Academic Success of English Learners in Virginia Schools - Dong Hoon Lee, Graduate Research Associate, Center for Policy Research, Syracuse University Breakout Room A
  • Modernizing Virginia's Social Safety Net: The Effects of CommonHelp on Multiple VDSS Program Participation & Well-Being - Dr. Neil A. Cholli, Klarman Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell University Breakout Room B
  • Pathways to Nursing Education - Dr. Yetty Shobo, Director, DHP Healthcare Workforce Data Center and Data Analytics Division Breakout Room D
  • Virginia Department of Education Demonstration of an Interactive Data Visualization - Alex Mattera, Senior Research Analyst, Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Breakout Room E
2:15-2:30 PM: Break
2:30-3:30 PM: Interactive VLDS Workshop

  • Ron Parrish, Senior Data Analyst at the Virginia Department of Education and Tamra Arant, Project Manager at DBDriven.net LLC
Blue Ridge Ballroom
3:30-3:45 PM: Break
3:45-4:45 PM: VLDS Breakout Session 2
  • Teachers Retention and Licensure Since the Pandemic’s Onset in Virginia - Dr. Luke Miller, Associate Research Professor, Department of Education, Leadership, Foundations, and Public Policy, University of Virginia (UVA) Breakout Room A
  • Using LASER to Provide Comprehensive Data to Drive Student Improvement Over Time - Mike Dunavant, Decision Analytics (LASER) Team Lead, Andrew Neiburg, Decision Analytics (LASER) Implementer, Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Breakout Room B
  • Gatekeepers to Broadening Participation in Engineering: Investigating Variation Across High Schools Comparing Who Could Go Versus Who Does Not Go Into Engineering, Dr. Jacob Grohs, Associate Professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Breakout Room D
  • Deep Dive and Demonstration of Modernized VLDS Researcher Portal - Tamra Arant, Project Manager, DBDriven.net LLC, Craig Moebus, Program Manager, DBDriven.net LLC Breakout Room E
4:45-5:00 PM: Closing Remarks & Evaluation Blue Ridge Ballroom

October 30, 2024
8:00-8:55 AM:  Registration and breakfast Blue Ridge Ballroom
9:00-10:00 AM: VLDS Stakeholders Panel

  • Tod Massa, Policy Analytics Director, State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV)

  • Dr. Luke C. Miller, Associate Research Professor, Department of Education, Leadership, Foundations, and Public Policy, University of Virginia (UVA)

  • Mike Dunavant, Program Manager, LASER, Virginia Department of Education

  • Brendon Abdon, Assistant Superintendent, Office of School Quality, Virginia Department of Education

 Blue Ridge Ballroom
10:00-10:15 AM: Break
10:15-11:15 AM:  VLDS Breakout Session Block 3
  • The Impact of Expanded SNAP Eligibility on Virginia College Students' Educational Performance - Dr. Lena Shi, Assistant Professor of Education Policy and Evaluation, University of California - Irvine Breakout Room A
  • Earnings and Employment Patterns Following Child-Care Subsidy Receipt - Dr. Colleen Heflin, Professor, Syracuse University Breakout Room B
  • Unlocking Equity: Data-Driven Access in Arts Education - Dr. Annamarie Bollino, President, National Association of Music Educators, Kelly Bisogno, Coordinator of Fine Arts, Virginia Dept of Education, Bob Miller, CEO, Quadrant Research Breakout Room D
11:15-12:00 PM: Feedback Session of VLDS, Closing Remarks & Evaluation Blue Ridge Ballroom
12:00-4:30 PM:  Farewell Lunch & Networking Opportunities Blue Ridge Ballroom

Contact

More information about the Virginia Longitudinal Data System can be found on the VLDS website.

Questions about this event can be directed to the Office of Strategic Analysis & Research.