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MARCH 4, 2025
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A group of students, the "Jollibaes," danced at Evanston Township High School's recent annual Middle Eastern North African and Asian Summit. ETHS student summits are daylong, in-school field trips organized by educators and students to celebrate diverse cultures and histories. This year's summit theme was “In the garden of life, we all bloom together.”
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FY 2026 EDUCATION FUNDING
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Dear Colleagues:
Earlier this year, the State Board of Education approved my budget recommendations for pre-K through 12 and for transition students, which included an additional $350 million in Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) and increases in mandated categorial line items, such as transportation, special education transportation, and special education private placement. We also requested funding to continue the implementation of our new Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding formula. You can review our full budget on ISBE’s Agency Budget Information webpage.
On Feb. 19, Governor JB Pritzker introduced to the General Assembly a budget that demonstrates his continued commitment to public education. Within his budget, he proposed increases of $350 million for EBF, $19.9 million for mandated categoricals (MCATs), and $1.3 million for CTE, along with level funding for most other programs, including Teacher Vacancy Grants (the third and final year of the pilot) and Early Childhood Block Grants.
I cannot emphasize enough that we are heading into uncertain fiscal times. I encourage district leaders to be mindful that the state of Illinois faces a budget shortfall for fiscal year 2026 that will impact the level of funding for education relative to past expectations. Receiving the $350 million in EBF would be a significant win.
As you develop your FY 2026 staffing models and budgets, please consider:
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Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax (CPPRT) revenues have fluctuated over the past several years, and because of this, many school districts have realized an adverse effect. For example, districts that may have moved to Tier 2 funding as a result of CPPRT in the past couple of years could bounce back into Tier 1 due to declines in available local resources. Remember, more districts in Tier 1 will impact the distribution of new funds.
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While EBF has consistently been a priority, increasing mandated categorical claims due to increasing special education and transportation costs – combined with insufficiently increased MCAT funding from the state – would mean proration would continue to increase and the amount districts receive would continue to decline as compared to actual operational expenses.
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I am required by statute to regularly update the Comparable Wage Index (CWI) portion of EBF. This is a factor intended to ensure that regional wage differences that exist across the state are taken into consideration in the formula. Since the inception of EBF, we have utilized a CWI most recently updated by Texas A&M University. During the past year, ISBE has worked with the University of Illinois to develop an Illinois-specific wage index that we believe will meet the statutory requirement of being a “similar methodology” to the original CWI. Updating our wage index will alter the adequacy targets of school districts which, in turn, can impact tier assignments and new tier funding for districts.
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As you are all keenly aware, federal pandemic-era Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding ends this fiscal year. This will obviously have an impact on districts, as well as programs initiated by the state using such funds.
School district leaders and their teams need to be aware of these fiscal challenges and plan accordingly.
Please know that ISBE will continue to advocate for annual increases in EBF and other sources of funds that support schools and will partner with Governor Pritzker and members of the General Assembly as they finalize the budget for FY 2026.
All my best,
Tony
Dr. Tony Sanders
State Superintendent of Education
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Please note this is not a complete list of events, meetings, and deadlines. Visit the ISBE Weekly Message Dates & Deadlines webpage for the complete list.
March 4: ACCESS testing window closes
March 5: McKinney-Vento Conference
March 5 | 12:30-2:30p.m.: School Finance Workshop (ROE 8, Freeport)
March 6 | 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: School Finance Workshop (ROE 19, DuPage)
March 6 | 10-11:30 a.m.: Webinar: Evidence-Based Funding Student Information for School Year 2025
March 10 | 1-3 p.m.: Assessment & Accountability Redesign Listening Tour (Parkland Community College, Champaign)
March 10 | 5-6 p.m.: Webinar: TEAACHing with Pushback and for Change
March 12 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: School Finance Workshop (West 40 ISC 2, Maywood)
March 13 | 10 a.m.: Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan Capacity Builders Webinar Series Session 6: Key Literacy Strategies and Concepts
March 13: Deadline to submit public comment on ISBE’s Tydings Waiver Request
March 13: Deadline to submit feedback on the Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force Final Report
March 15: Deadline to submit ISBE Career Connections Conference Exhibitor Interest Form
March 18 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: School Finance Workshop (ROE 20, Carmi)
March 18-19: Illinois Specific Learning Disability Project - EmpowerED 2025 Annual Conference
March 19: IWAS to MyISBE Listening Tour (Vandalia)
March 21 | 1-3 p.m.: Assessment & Accountability Redesign Listening Tour (Hall High School District 502, Spring Valley)
March 25 | 10-11 a.m.: Webinar: Transitional Instruction 101
March 26 | 1-3 p.m.: IWAS to MyISBE Listening Tour (Rantoul)
March 28: Student and Parent 5Essentials Survey window closes
March 31: Staff/Teacher 5Essentials Survey window closes
April 1 | 1-3 p.m.: Assessment & Accountability Redesign Listening Tour (Vandalia CUSD 203)
April 7 | 1-3 p.m.: Assessment & Accountability Redesign Listening Tour (John A. Logan College, Carterville)
April 7-9: ISBE School Wellness Conference
April 9 | 1-3 p.m.: IWAS to MyISBE Listening Tour (Peoria)
April 10 | 10 a.m.: Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan Capacity Builders Webinar Series Session 7: Assembling and Leading a Literacy Team
April 21 | 1-3 p.m.: Assessment & Accountability Redesign Listening Tour (East Moline School District 37)
April 21-22: Illinois Association of Title Directors Spring Conference
April 23 | 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: School Finance Workshop (ROE 32, Kankakee)
April 24 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: School Finance Workshop (ROE 40, Jerseyville)
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See More Dates & Deadlines
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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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Katie Welch
West Central Regional Teacher of the Year
Rolling Acres Middle School, Peoria School District 150
Katie Welch is a seventh grade math teacher at Rolling Acres Middle School in Peoria School District 150 and the teacher of record for the Peoria Online Academy for students who have chosen a virtual education option. She is the only virtual teacher for Grades 2-8. She prides herself on making mathematical content relevant and meaningful, and every one of her students meets or exceeds their growth targets on the MAP test. Beyond the classroom, she is the head of her school's leadership team, helping to implement the school’s improvement plan and offering professional development for her colleagues. She also serves on the district’s Curriculum Committee and Math Advisory Council. She says the two things that get her through her day are Jesus and Coke Zero. Read more about Katie Welch.
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Tracy Selock
East Central Regional Teacher of the Year
Lincoln Cultural Center Montessori Elementary School, Kankakee School District 111
Tracy Selock teaches seventh and eighth grade math at Lincoln Cultural Center Montessori Fine Arts School in Kankakee School District 111 and leads graduate students in educational action research at Olivet Nazarene University. At Lincoln, she connects her students to organizations like Girls on the Run, NEED Energizing Student Potential, and STEAM in the Park to provide unique academic experiences. Her role at Olivet gives her a way to mentor other educators through initiatives like Nourished Teachers -- an online community she helped launch during the pandemic that offered professional development and support for more than 800 educators. Ms. Selock has previously won the Daily Journal Apple Award, the Mary Ann Paradise Scholarship, and no fewer than three trophies in competitions for amateur grilled cheese chefs. She lives on the farm that has been in her family since 1848. Read more about Tracy Selock.
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NEW! ASSESSMENT & ACCOUNTABILITY
Listening Tour: New Date Added in Chicago!
ISBE has added a new tour stop, 4-6 p.m. May 22 in Chicago, to the Assessment & Accountability Redesign Listening Tour.
ISBE invites administrators, educators, and other stakeholders to preview and give us your feedback on possible accountability models and on assessment performance level descriptors that will lay the foundation for new proficiency benchmarks.
Join State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders, Chief of Staff Dr. Kimako Patterson; and Data, Accountability & Assessment Executive Director Rae Clementz, and other ISBE leaders to give your input on the latest updates in the assessment and accountability redesign. Download and share the flyer. Register via Eventbrite.
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March 10 – Parkland Community College (Auditorium), 2400 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign, IL 61821
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March 21 – Hall High School, 800 W. Erie St., Spring Valley, IL 61362
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April 1 – ROE #3 Professional Development Center, 1500 W. Jefferson St., Vandalia, IL 62471
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April 7 – John A. Logan College, 700 Logan College Drive, Carterville, IL 62918
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April 21 – East Moline School District 37, 3451 Morton Drive, East Moline, IL 61244
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May 5 – Peoria School District, 3202 N. Wisconsin Ave., Peoria, IL 61603
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May 9 – University of St. Francis - St. Clare Campus - Assembly Hall, 1550 Plainfield Road, Joliet, IL 60435
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May 22 – Chicago World Language Academy, 1340 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607
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NEW! EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
FY 2026 IDEA Preschool Discretionary Grants Request for Proposal
ISBE is seeking Requests for Proposal (RFPs) for the following fiscal Year 2026 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Preschool Discretionary Grants: STAR NET, Early CHOICES, and the Child Find Awareness Project. Applications are due by 4 p.m. April 11. The RFPs, application forms, and Frequently Asked Question documents can be found on the Early Childhood RFP Information webpage. Contact 217-524-4835 or earlychi@isbe.net if you have questions.
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NEW! FINANCE
PA 103-0644 Office Hours (for Separate Public Facilities)
If you administer a separate public day school as defined by Public Act 103-0644, please join ISBE for office hours starting at 2:30 p.m. March 5. Members of the Department of Funding and Disbursements as well as external consultants will be on hand to answer questions and build a Frequently Asked Questions document that will be posted on the website. Office hours will be held each Wednesday from March 5-April 9.
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School Finance Workshops
Join ISBE’s Regional Financial Consultants for very informative School Finance Workshops. These workshops will cover a variety of topics and welcome superintendents, chief school business officers, and bookkeepers. Some topics being covered are the Basic Bookkeeper Guide; Financial Forecasting; Illinois Accounting Rules - Part 100; Fund Transfers, Cash Flows, and Workbook Review; State Budget Form; Annual Statement of Affairs; Grant Expenditure Reporting and Due Dates; Financial Reimbursement Information System Inquiry; and more!
Register for the in-person School Finance Workshop that best fits your location and schedule.
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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 prerecorded 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! SAFE & HEALTHY CLIMATE
2025 5Essentials Survey
The 2025 Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and parents is open until March 28. The staff/teacher survey deadline has been extended to March 31.
Tips for a Successful Administration:
Assign a Survey Coordinator:
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Principals: Assign a school survey coordinator other than yourself to track school progress and manage requests.
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Superintendents: Assign a district survey coordinator (e.g., assistant superintendent, curriculum director) to monitor district progress.
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How to assign a survey coordinator:
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Go to "Manage School Admins."
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Click on your school/district name.
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Principals select "+School Admin." Superintendents select "+School Group Admin."
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Enter the coordinator’s email address and name, then click “Submit” to trigger an email notification of the admin account.
Roster Reminders:
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UChicago Impact cannot add staff/students to rosters.
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Missing individuals must use a provisional login.
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Do not upload new rosters. It will not update your school/district's records.
Support Materials:
Please visit 5Essentials for more information. Contact 5essentials@isbe.net or Impact-Surveys@uchicago.edu for administration support.
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Register for the ISBE School Wellness Conference
The ISBE School Wellness Conference is set for April 7-9 at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. The conference will feature pre-conference workshops on April 7, inspirational keynote speakers, evening entertainment, and more! The theme is “Thriving Together: Comprehensive School Wellness Solutions” and is sponsored by ISBE, the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, and Social-Emotional Learning Hubs.
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What Do You Think About the Resiliency Toolkit?
We are excited to introduce the Resiliency Toolkit, a collection of resources designed to foster safe and healthy school climates. These resources are aligned with ISBE’s definition of resilience and are aimed at supporting the well-being and growth of students, educators, and the broader school community.
We kindly invite you and your staff to provide feedback about the Resiliency Toolkit through a brief survey. Your insights are invaluable in ensuring that the resources meet the needs of all stakeholders and continue to support the development of resilient, safe, and thriving school environments. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
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Understanding FitnessGram: Key Information for Illinois Schools
All schools must administer an annual fitness assessment, FitnessGram, during the second semester (unless a student only has PE during the first semester). Aggregate data for Grades 5, 7, and 10 for each applicable school must be reported electronically to ISBE via the Student Health Data-Physical fitness system in IWAS by June 30.
Click the Illinois Physical Fitness Assessments/FitnessGram dropdown on the ISBE Enhanced Physical Education webpage to learn more. Physical education teachers should review the FitnessGram Best Practices for PE Teachers in Illinois document for more information. Please contact care@isbe.net or
rseitzin@isbe.net if you have any questions or concerns.
The Student Health Data: Physical Fitness Submission User Guide gives step-by-step directions to report fitness scores. Individuals will need an IWAS account to be able to access the Student Health Data: Physical Fitness system. Don’t have an existing IWAS account? Register for one in IWAS and contact your RCDT administrator (typically, the superintendent) to approve your IWAS request for fitness reporting. If you already have an IWAS account, begin on page 5.
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NEW! SPECIAL EDUCATION
Supported Decision-Making: An Alternative to Guardianship for Students with Disabilities
Supported decision-making is an alternative to guardianship for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities beginning at age 18 or older. Illinois' Supported Decision-Making Agreement Act became effective in 2022 for students and adults with disabilities who might need some assistance with decision-making but not a full-fledged guardianship. In supported decision-making, students identify another trusted adult, such as a parent, adult sibling or adult family friend, to be their supporter and assist with decision-making in certain areas of their lives. The support arrangements are documented into a Supported Decision-Making Agreement that is signed by both the student and the supporter in front of two other adult witnesses. Then, the supporter would assist the student in the designated areas of support by helping gather information regarding a decision, helping the student weigh options surrounding a decision, and, if needed, helping communicate the student's decisions. The student makes all final decisions; the supporter simply provides support. Guardianship would still be an option for students who need that level of decision-making assistance and as determined by a court.
More information about supported decision-making can be found on the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission's website. The commission also is able to provide schools, students, and parents with presentations about supported decision-making as well as adult guardianship. For more information, contact Teresa Parks at Teresa.Parks@illinois.gov.
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NEW! STANDARDS & INSTRUCTION
Transitional Instruction 101 Webinar
Join ISBE and Education Systems Center at NIU (EdSystems) from 10-11 a.m. March 25 to learn more about transitional instruction, which was established by the 2016 Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act and increases college readiness for high school seniors and reduces remedial education needs. This webinar will cover the base requirements of districts under the PWR Act, as well as more details about transitional English and transitional math course development and delivery, student placement, and portability processes. Attendees will have an opportunity ask questions. This session is geared towards district and school leaders who have not yet begun implementing transitional instruction for their students. Register for the “Transitional Instruction 101 Webinar” on the EdSystems website.
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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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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). 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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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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IN BRIEF
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Educator Opportunities
Illinois Council for the Social Studies Spring Conference
Teachers, administrators, and curriculum specialists are invited to the Illinois Council for the Social Studies Conference on April 10 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. This year’s theme is “Telling our Story: Social Studies Education” and sessions will focus on a wide variety of historical and contemporary narratives, teaching techniques, and classroom-ready resources. Continuing education credit is offered.
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Strategic CSforAll Resource & Implementation Planning Tool
The Kane County Regional Office of Education (ROE) now offers a trained SCRIPT facilitator to guide your team through an alignment program to create an equitable computer science curriculum that is accessible for all students.
SCRIPT stands for Strategic CSforAll Resource & Implementation Planning Tool, and the program targets six specific areas:
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Teacher capacity and development
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Curriculum/Materials Selection and Refinement
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Leadership
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Partners
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Technology Infrastructure
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Community
The SCRIPT Program can help you establish a rigorous, inclusive, and sustainable framework, and a common understanding of computer science. Review the Kane County ROE SCRIPT flyer to learn more about this free opportunity.
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Prevent Child Abuse Illinois & ParenTeach Institute Free Educator Wellness Lunch n’ Learn
Prevent Child Abuse Illinois has partnered with ParenTeach Institute to present an insightful and interactive webinar from noon-1 p.m. April 29 designed specifically for educators and school administrators to learn how to manage stress, prioritize self-care, and cultivate a work-life balance. ParenTeach also will present information on its social emotional learning curriculum, ParentABLE. Register for the Educator Wellness Lunch n’ Learn.
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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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Student Opportunities
“Your Voice: Changing the World, One Speech at a Time” Essay Contest
The Mobile Museum of Tolerance (MMOT), in collaboration with the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes, is hosting the annual "Your Voice: Changing the World, One Speech at a Time" contest for Illinois students in Grades 6-12. This year’s contest challenges students to reflect on this powerful quote by Holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal: “Education is the key to breaking the cycle of hatred.”
Students are invited to write and present a three-minute speech exploring how this message connects to their lives; why it remains relevant today; and the importance of confronting hate, bigotry, and intolerance.
Essay submissions are due March 28. Please share this exciting opportunity with your students and their families. Detailed guidelines are available on the MMOT website.
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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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