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FEBRUARY 24, 2026
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Bragging rights go to the staff this year in Glen Ellyn School District 41! Hadley Junior High School hosted its second annual Staff vs. Student Basketball Game, featuring an incredible performance by eighth-grade math and science teacher Ms. Wiegele (first row, center), who scored nine 3-pointers to secure the win.
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Dear Colleagues:
For many of our students and families, life after high school can be a fuzzy picture without a clear focus. But our friends over at the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) have provided a new lens with a program they call One Click College Admit. If you aren’t familiar with One Click, that’s because it just launched last summer. It’s the state’s direct admissions program into community colleges and participating public universities.
Here's how it works: In their junior year of high school, students (and parents if the student is under 18) complete the One Click College Admit opt-in form, providing basic information like name and address. Submitting that one simple form allows a high school to share the student’s grade point average, or GPA, with ISAC, which then matches it to the GPA criteria provided by participating colleges and universities across Illinois. All the student has to do is create a Common App account. They can then receive college admissions offers through that account in September of their senior year.
Please notice what’s missing from this process. There’s no writing essays, no collecting letters of recommendation, and no application fees. One Click is fast, simple, and free. It waives all the stressful parts of applying for college. You can find resources for sharing this news with your school community by visiting our School Counselors webpage.
One Click is designed to expand students’ choices, not limit them. No one is required to accept admission from a responding institution. If a student chooses to submit a traditional application to a particular school, the One Click admit doesn’t negate that application.
While One Click College Admit is a direct admissions program, it’s not a financial aid program. Students or families would still need to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The good news is that ISAC has long been recognized as the agency that’s expert at providing free help to families completing their financial aid applications.
If you have questions or want to learn more about One Click, join us for a free webinar Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. ISAC also has quick how-to videos that explain the One Click sign-up process. If you are interested in other workshops to help your students achieve their postsecondary goals, visit ISAC’s events calendar. Schools, students, and families can also connect with their local ISACorps member in person, by phone, or online, or make a free virtual appointment with an ISAC expert.
Transitions can be really tough. Anyone who has struggled to get the kids into the car, and then to get them out again, knows exactly what I’m talking about — and that’s nothing compared to the transition from high school to college. So, I hope you all get a chance to explore this new One Click tool and share it with your guidance counselors, teachers, families, and students. It could clear up that fuzzy picture and give more focus to the future.
All my best,
Tony
Dr. Tony Sanders
State Superintendent of Education
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FINANCE
Census Estimates and Fiscal Year 2027 Title I Allocations
The U.S. Department of Education has released the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for income year 2024. These estimates will be used to calculate fiscal year 2027 Title I allocations. An Excel file of 2024 Poverty Data by Local Education Agency (LEA) is available for download. Note that this preliminary data does not include other non-Census information, such as foster, neglected, or delinquent counts, that will be included to calculate actual Title I allocations. This data allows LEAs to determine their potential eligibility for the various funding streams of Title I – Basic, Concentration, Targeted, and Education Finance Incentive Grants.
Superintendents, business managers, and Title I directors should carefully examine the data for their LEA, as this will be the first indication as to whether the LEA may be gaining or losing eligibility for Title I funds in FY 2027. ISBE neither controls nor generates the data. There is a challenge period for LEAs to review the 2024 poverty and population data for certain nonstatistical errors, which include errors the U.S. Census Bureau may have made in 1) processing input data or in running the estimation models/programs, or 2) preparing or processing information to define geographic boundaries (i.e., school district boundaries). This challenge period ends on March 17. Please contact the SAIPE program at 301-763-3193 or sehsd.saipe@census.gov to obtain information on the process to challenge the data. More information and guidance concerning the U.S. Census Bureau’s challenge procedure, as well as information about the SAIPE data sources and methodology used to prepare this data, are available on the U.S. Census Bureau website.
If you have questions, please contact Alex Wheeler at awheeler@isbe.net or 217-782-5256.
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SAFE & HEALTHY CLIMATE
School Year 2025-26 Annual FitnessGram Assessment
Illinois requires students in Grades 3-12 to participate in FitnessGram, an annual fitness assessment designed to help students develop healthy habits and reach optimal fitness levels.
FitnessGram measures four key areas:
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Aerobic Capacity (PACER test in Grades 4-12)
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Muscular Strength (push-ups or curl-ups)
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Muscular Endurance (curl-ups or modified test)
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Flexibility (sit-and-reach test)
All schools must administer FitnessGram during the second semester (unless a student only has first-semester physical education) and report data to ISBE. Aggregate data for Grades 5, 7, and 10 for each applicable school needs to be reported electronically to ISBE through the Student Health Data-Physical fitness system in the ISBE Web Application Security (IWAS) system by June 30.
For more information, view ISBE’s Enhanced Physical Education webpage, FitnessGram Best Practices for PE Teachers in Illinois, and the Physical Fitness IWAS Electronic Submission User Guide. Email wellness_student_care@isbe.net or Rseitzin@isbe.net with any questions or concerns.
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STANDARDS & INSTRUCTION
Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan Second Draft Available for Review
The Illinois State Board of Education is pleased to share the second draft of the Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan with the field. Regional Offices of Education/Intermediate Service Centers, teachers, instructional coaches, administrators, counselors, and other education leaders are encouraged to review Draft 2 in advance of the upcoming listening tours, where there will be opportunities to provide direct feedback. As this is not a presentation or interactive discussion, the numeracy team kindly asks participants to come prepared to share input, which will help shape the final plan to better support numeracy learning for all Illinois students. Those unable to attend a listening tour session can share comments via the Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan Draft 2 Feedback form. The second draft and listening tour details, including dates, locations, and registration, are available on the ISBE Numeracy Plan webpage.
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MULTILINGUAL/LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
Help Shape Illinois’ Dual Language Education Guidance
ISBE is developing a comprehensive dual language guidance document to be completed by Dec. 15. This statewide resource will support districts in establishing and expanding high-quality dual language programs. To ensure the document reflects community needs, ISBE is hosting in-person listening sessions across the state. These sessions serve as dedicated time for participants to share feedback. Please review Draft 1 of the Illinois Dual Language Guidance in advance and come prepared with input. ISBE staff will be present to listen to and gather comments. Listening tour details, including dates, locations, and registration, are available on the ISBE Dual Language Guidance webpage.
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SAFE & HEALTHY CLIMATE
Illinois School Phone Policies Survey
We have received 5,000 responses to the Illinois School Phone Policies Survey so far! Our goal is to collect five or more responses in at least 70% of public and charter schools across Illinois. The survey will close on July 1.
ISBE invites teachers, principals, counselors, social workers, and all certified school staff from Illinois public and charter schools to participate in a national survey examining school cellphone policies and their impact on student learning and well-being in Illinois. Cellphone use in schools is a major topic of conversation nationwide, and we strongly encourage educators to share their perspectives. This optional survey takes approximately five minutes to complete and is completely confidential.
If you have questions about the survey, please contact Interim Director for Proving Ground at the Center for Education Policy Research Amber Humm Patnode or ISBE Director of Wellness and Student Care Jeffrey Judge.
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IN BRIEF
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Educator Opportunities
Supporting Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder at School and Home
Lurie Children’s Hospital Center for Childhood Resilience invites educators and families to Making Connections: Autism Spectrum Disorder at School and Home from 3:30-4:30 p.m. March 3.
The virtual session will:
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Provide a general overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) including discussion of prevalence of diagnosis and clinical features, specifically in classroom settings
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Discuss the school evaluation process for neuropsychiatric disorders and review the process of referral for a formal psychiatric/neuropsychological assessment, including when to consider medication
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Discuss the importance of 504 Plans and Individualized Education Programs for children with ASD and review common helpful accommodations
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Discuss strategies that can be utilized at home to support children with ASD
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Teaching With and About Native Peoples
Registration is now open for Teaching With and About Native Peoples, an eight-week professional development (PD) opportunity offered virtually by Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy. The PD is on Tuesdays from 4:30-6 p.m. March 31-May 19.
Understanding Native peoples’ histories, cultures, and contemporary issues is essential to a comprehensive education about the United States. A recent amendment to the Illinois School Code now requires U.S. history instruction to include Native Americans’ roles, contributions, sovereignty, and self-determination.
This professional learning experience supports educators in meeting this mandate by deepening their knowledge and strengthening their practice in teaching with and about Native peoples by centering Native voices, perspectives, and presence into the future.
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Illinois Council for the Social Studies Spring Conference
Teachers, administrators, and curriculum specialists are invited to the Illinois Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference on April 9 in Charleston. With the theme of “Social Studies: The Art and Science of It All,” sessions focus on how history, geography, civics, and economics might be approached scientifically and artfully. Sessions include dialogue regarding navigating controversial topics in the classroom, using Supreme Court cases in the classroom, and more.
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Rural IL CTE Project Webinar Series: Computer Science Skills for all CTE Pathways
In this interactive webinar, the Learning Technology Center (LTC) will show you how to introduce students to sensory computing using the micro:bit. This session is designed for everyone — no prior coding experience is required — and these activities integrate seamlessly into any subject area. Whether you’re a tech expert or a total beginner, join LTC at 3 p.m. March 5 to see how physical computing prepares your students for a future driven by innovation. Register for the Rural IL CTE Project Webinar Series: Computer Science Skills for all CTE Pathways.
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Inaugural Illinois Rural Education Conference: Exploring Student Career Success
The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools will host the first education conference in the state catered to the rural and small school perspective on April 17 in Decatur. Join in person to network with and learn from other rural Career and Technical Education directors and educators, meet exhibitors and partners, and participate in a collaborative workshop with keynote presenter Christian Jackson.
A virtual live stream is available for those who cannot attend in person. Attendees may earn professional development hours. Register for the Rural Education Conference.
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2026 American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice High School Film Competition
The American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice is now accepting submissions for their inaugural film competition, Lights, Camera, Justice! They are searching for powerful, thought-provoking short films that illuminate critical human rights and social justice issues. This engaging initiative invites high school juniors and seniors to use the power of media to express what civil rights means to them today.
Entries are due May 1. Cash prizes will be awarded for first ($5,000), second ($3,000), and third ($2,000) places. Full competition details, rules, eligibility, and submission guidelines can be found on the High School Civil Rights Film Competition webpage.
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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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