PHILADELPHIA –- Hundreds of education journalists will gather at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education for the 65thEducation Writers Association’s national seminar tomorrow through Saturday.

“Reporters, researchers and scholars all have unique perspectives on what makes educational improvement so challenging,” Andy Porter, Penn GSE dean, said. “Working together on a seminar like this lets us address the most consequential topics in the field in a way that improves reporting and research.”

Co-sponsored by Penn GSE and the American Educational Research Association, a Washington-based research association for 25,000 scholars engaged in research in education and learning, this year’s seminar will cover such topics as school violence, college spending, principal leadership, improving community colleges, dropouts, college affordability, absenteeism, affirmative action, charter schools, online learning, summer learning loss and early education research.

Education researchers from Penn GSE will speak on various K-12 and higher-education panels during the national seminar, held in Houston Hall and Irvine Auditorium: 

• Porter will discuss “Shifting States: What’s in Store from Common Core,” Thursday at 11:45 a.m. in Houston Hall’s Hall of Flags, and “What About Principals?” at 3:55 p.m. in the Ben Franklin Room. 
• Richard Ingersoll will talk about “Tomorrow’s Teacher: Paths to Prestige and Effectiveness” Friday at 9 a.m. in Houston Hall’s Bodek Lounge.
• Laura Perna and Joni Finney will address “New Research on State Policy and College-Going Gaps” Friday at 10:45 a.m. in Irvine Auditorium’s Amado Recital Room.
• Yasmin Kafai will discuss video games and their role in helping children learn with “Serious Fun: Making, Not Playing, Games for Learning” Saturday at 8 a.m. in Houston Hall’s Class of ’49 Room.
• Shaun Harper will talk about “Looking at Patterns of Success, Not Failure” Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in Houston Hall’s Ben Franklin Room.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker will deliver the keynote address during the Buskin lecture and luncheon Friday at 12:30 p.m. in the Hall of Flags in Houston Hall.