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FEBRUARY 25, 2025
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Students at Farmington Central Elementary School recently helped third-grader Jaxson celebrate a treatment milestone during their weekly Friday morning meeting. Jaxson struck a gong to say “peace out” to chemotherapy. We wish him continued good health!
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SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT GUIDANCE
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Dear Colleagues:
I know that districts across the state are evaluating budget priorities and looking for ways to sustain effective programs after pandemic relief funding has expired. In an effort to support you in this work, we have released updated guidance on two crucial topics -- the 1003 School Improvement Grant and Supplement Not Supplant (SNS) for Title I, Part A. You will find a prerecorded webinar on our website as well as a detailed document with examples and responses to Frequently Asked Questions. These resources are based on the 2019 U.S. Department of Education Non-Regulatory Guidance and build on information ISBE provided during our 2019 Title Grant Technical Assistance Tour.
As district leaders know, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) changed the way that districts prove compliance with both SNS Title I, Part A and the 1003 School Improvement Grant. In the past, SNS requirements were tested at the level of individual expenditures and services – a method that was both burdensome to school districts and, in many cases, a hindrance to coordinating these federal grants with other state and local resources. ESSA replaced the cost-by-cost SNS test with a new method, requiring districts to simply maintain a documented resource allocation methodology (RAM) that shows how each school receives state and local funding -- without regard for its status as a Title or Non-Title school. This change was intended to prioritize effective spending and, most importantly, ensure that schools operating Title programs receive Title funds in addition to -- not in place of -- state and local resources.
We offer our updated guidance resources to help clarify the steps that all districts can take to ensure compliance with SNS for Title I, Part A and the 1003 School Improvement Grant. We include RAM that has been developed with feedback from the Illinois Association of School Business Officials. Throughout the guidance materials, we highlight legislative requirements, provide important context from the U.S. Department of Education 2019 Non-Regulatory Guidance, and include examples of flexible and coordinated use of Title I, Part A and the 1003 School Improvement Grant. Questions not addressed in the webinar or guidance document can be submitted to ISBE via this form.
We encourage all districts to review these materials as you plan for programming and student support in the coming months.
All my best,
Tony
Dr. Tony Sanders
State Superintendent of Education
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NEW! 2025 ILLINOIS TEACHER OF THE YEAR COHORT
ISBE has announced the members of the 2025 Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort, including the 13 finalists for 2025 Illinois State Teacher of the Year. The annual Teacher of the Year program honors incredible classroom educators who have made lasting impacts on the students, families, and fellow educators in their school communities. ISBE will showcase cohort members in the Weekly Message each week leading up to the announcement of the 2025 Illinois State Teacher of the Year this spring. Congratulations to all this year’s extraordinary awardees!
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Comfort Agboola
Cook County Co-Regional Teacher of the Year
Poe Elementary Classical School, Chicago Public Schools District 299
Comfort Agboola is a middle school language arts teacher at Edgar Allan Poe Classical School in Chicago Public Schools District 299. She also is the founder of Lit and Love LLC, an educational consulting company that provides teachers with resources to implement literacy and writing programs. Ms. Agboola has dedicated herself to innovation in curriculum design, the cultivation of an inclusive and collaborative school culture, and the pursuit of educational equity during her 12-year career working in schools. Read more about Comfort Agboola.
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Víctor Gómez
Cook County Co-Regional Teacher of the Year
East and West Leyden High Schools, Leyden Community High School District 212
Víctor Gómez is a bilingual educator in Leyden Community High School District 212. Mr. Gómez, along with a colleague, was at the forefront of the proposal and development of the bilingual program at East Leyden and was instrumental in launching and designing the curriculum for the school’s first true bilingual science course, Bilingual Chemistry. He has been a fierce advocate for English learners during his six years as a teacher. Read more about Víctor Gómez.
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NEW! CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Career Connections Conference Registration Now Open
We’re thrilled to announce that registration for the 2025 ISBE Career Connections Conference is now open! This is your opportunity to be part of an inspiring and impactful event designed to bring together professionals, industry leaders, and innovators in Career and Technical Education (CTE). Whether you're looking to expand your knowledge, engage in meaningful discussions, or build valuable connections, this conference offers something for everyone. The 2025 ISBE Career Connections Conference is scheduled for June 16-17 in Tinley Park.
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Showcase your Products and Programs at the 2025 ISBE Career Connections Conference
Space is filling up quickly to exhibit at the 2025 ISBE Career Connections Conference! On June 17, selected vendors, professional organizations, and career technical student organizations have the opportunity to exhibit in a high-traffic area, offering a prime space for speaking with Illinois CTE practitioners and administrators. Interested? Complete this Exhibitor Interest Form by March 15. Want more information? View the conference vendor flyer.
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NEW! DATA STRATEGIES & ANALYTICS
SY 2025 EBF Student Information Webinar
This webinar is intended for district or school data staff and is centered around the enrollment data requirements in the Student Information System (SIS). This session also is appropriate for superintendents or other school and district administrators who want to affirm or broaden their understanding of enrollment calculations for the purposes of Evidence-Based Funding (EBF).
This webinar will cover how student data from SIS and the IEP-Student Tracking and Reporting (I-Star) System will be used in the EBF formula. There will be detailed instruction on how to check student enrollments in SIS and determine which students are included or excluded from the Average Student Enrollment, which is used to calculate EBF. There will be a question-and-answer period at the end of the webinar. Register for the EBF Student Information for School Year 2025 webinar, which will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. March. 6.
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NEW! FINANCE
Updated Guidance on Supplement Not Supplant Compliance for Title I, Part A and the 1003 School Improvement Grant
ISBE has released updated guidance on Title I Supplement Not Supplant for Title I Part A and the 1003 School Improvement Grant, based on non-regulatory guidance issued by the U.S Department of Education in June 2019. The Every Student Succeeds Act specifies that Local Education Agencies (LEAs) must demonstrate compliance with Supplement Not Supplant for these federal grants by maintaining a resource allocation methodology. ISBE’s resources include a pre-recorded webinar and a detailed guidance document with examples of methodologies and Frequently Asked Questions. Districts also have an opportunity to submit their own questions to ISBE.
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NEW! STANDARDS & INSTRUCTION
How to TEAACH Webinar Series – TEAACHing With Pushback and for Change
Please join ISBE, higher education professionals, and district leaders from 5-6 p.m. March 10 for a panel conversation on educational inclusion, why it matters, and how to create more inclusive classrooms using the Teaching Equitable Asian American (TEAACH) ACT Resource Guide. Every public elementary school and high school in the state is required to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction about Asian American history beginning with this school year. This webinar will provide tools to enhance understanding of pedagogy and practices for more inclusive classrooms.
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IMPROVEMENT & INNOVATION
ISBE Seeks Public Comment on Tydings Waiver Request
The Illinois State Board of Education intends to request a waiver of Section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act, also known as the “Tydings Amendment," in order to obligate Title I, Part A, Section 1003 federal fiscal year 2023 funds through Sept. 30, 2026.
Approval of the waiver will ensure the continuity of school improvement initiatives, enhance student achievement, provide time for the implementation of evidence-based school improvement strategies, and afford ISBE the opportunity to expand services offered by the statewide system of technical assistance and support.
As required by Section 8401(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the state must provide the public and LEAs with notice and a reasonable opportunity to comment and provide input on a proposed waiver request. This is an invitation for the public to provide feedback on the proposed waiver request. Please submit your comment to schoolimprovement@isbe.net by March 13. Copies of all public comments received will be included as part of the waiver request submission.
If you have any questions regarding the proposed waiver request, please contact Dr. Nikki Combs, director of the ISBE School/District Improvement Department, at schoolimprovement@isbe.net.
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WELLNESS & STUDENT CARE
Bullying and Harassment Data Collection
The Wellness and Student Care Department is developing a FAQ for the new data collections created by Public Act 103-0047 and the Racism-Free Schools Law. Our preliminary guidance and data template can be found on ISBE’s Bullying Prevention webpage. We would like to hear from you! If you have any questions about this data collection, please send them to bullyingpolicy@isbe.net.
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IN BRIEF
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Student Opportunities
Social Media and Mental Health Virtual Forum for Youth
The American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health is excited to announce that the Beyond the Likes - Social Media, Mental Health & You Virtual Youth Forum will be held from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. March 1 and March 8.
This free, two-day, interactive event is designed to educate and empower youth and young adults (ages 14-24) to navigate the digital world with confidence. Participants will explore the impact of social media on mental health, engage in meaningful conversations with peers and experts, and gain practical tools for managing their digital lives.
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Educator Opportunities
Multilingual Preschool Videos for Families
Early Childhood Professional Learning is delighted to share two new free on-demand videos for staff and families. Each video is available in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
The first video explains the ISBE Home Language Survey and how the information from that survey is used in early care and education centers (ECEC) in our state. ECEC staff are strongly encouraged to show this video to family members as part of the preschool registration process.
The second video explains that when children are encouraged to maintain their home language or learn a new language from an early age, it has lasting benefits that go beyond just speaking more than one language. Illinois has a statewide goal to nurture bilingualism in all children, and our families' commitments to their home languages are an important part of that goal.
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Antisemitism: What Do Educators Need To Know?
Reported antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools rose by a shocking 135% in school year 2023-24. Are you an educator looking for a way to stop antisemitism from escalating? Are you worried about an increase in antisemitic bullying? If so, the Anti-Defamation League’s free, self-paced 20-minute module, Antisemitism: What Do Educators Need To Know?, can help. The module equips educators to better understand the rich diversity of the Jewish community and to respond to antisemitic incidents. It integrates easily into professional development days and can also be taken by individual staff, administrators, and teachers. Contact Midwest Education Director Dr. Lara Trubowitz at ltrubowitz@adl.org for additional information.
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Ed Leaders Network
Ed Leaders Network offers free one-hour webinars throughout the year to spotlight strategies, leadership tips, and tools. Upcoming webinars include:
How to Make Incredible, Impactful, and Attention-Grabbing Presentations
3-4 p.m. March 5
Speaking and leading a presentation is a skill. Why are some great and some tough to sit through? Join Andrew Marotta for this engaging and practical session on creating amazing presentations. He will explain how to use Canva, Google Slides, props, and storytelling to improve your timing, flow, and interactive engagement, which can make your next presentation even more effective.
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Featured ISBE Career Opportunities
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The Illinois State Board of Education is the State Education Agency for Illinois. Our mission is to provide each and every child with safe and healthy learning conditions, great educators, and equitable opportunities by practicing data-informed stewardship of resources and policy development, all done in partnership with educators, families, and stakeholders.
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