P-20 Network Newsletter

In December 2023, Northern Illinois University and the Illinois P-20 Network were awarded the United States Department of Education’s four-year Rural Postsecondary Education Grant. This project is titled, Room to Grow: Rural Postsecondary Success through Collective Impact, and along with Northern Illinois University, Highland Community College and Regional Office of Education 8 are key partners on the project, which runs through December 31, 2027. In short, this project seeks to increase postsecondary student success, particularly for Black and Hispanic students, through efforts beginning with career readiness-aligned learning at the middle school and high school level and continuing with high-quality and inclusive student supports at the community college and university. Learn more about Room to Grow.

To help lead these efforts, the Illinois P-20 Network is expanding our team with a new position – the Room to Grow Program Coordinator. Those interested can learn more and apply on the NIU Human Resources Services website.

This year’s Educational Coaching Network Conference isn’t just for educational coaches. If you’re an administrator, team leader, human resources professional or professional development leader – anyone who helps to educate, lead, or coach adults – this conference is for you!

Learn about the science of adult learning from keynote speaker Jennifer Abrams.
Find out how and when the adult brain develops and how this impacts the ways we should be teaching and leading adults.
Discuss concrete, specific experiences you and your peers have encountered – and learn practical solutions you can apply right away.

Discounted registration for teams of three or more is still available for this day of learning at NIU’s Naperville Campus. Register now to secure your spot!

Join hundreds of other educators from school districts and postsecondary institutions on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, for the ISBE Career Connections Conference. With an opening featuring ISBE State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders, a mid-day keynote panel focused on Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeships, and dozens of breakout sessions from educators across Illinois, this is a conference not to be missed! Plus, no substitute teachers are likely to be necessary to support teachers in attending in mid-June!

SkillsUSA is hosting the SkillsUSA ConneCTEd Social on Monday, June 17, from 6 PM to 8 PM at the North & Maple Kitchen + Bar in Tinley Park. This event is free for all conference participants. Registration for this event is included as part of conference registration.

Breakout sessions have also now been posted on the ISBE Career Connections Conference website. Check out all of the varied learning opportunities!

Currently, HB5020 sits in the Illinois General Assembly’s Senate Assignments Committee, where it has gone without additional action as of the time of the writing of this week’s Newsletter. On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the Illinois P-20 Network did publish this HB5020 Update on our website’s News feed. This update was also shared at that time with the Dual Credit Think Tank.

Moving forward, the Illinois P-20 Network will continue to provide updates to the Dual Credit Think Tank, specifically, via email and to the field, generally, on the Illinois P-20 Network’s News feed. Keep an eye on our website for the most up-to-date information on this legislation!

In February, the Summer 2024 ISBE CTE Professional Learning Calendar was released. The Summer 2024 Calendar features 24 workshops, including in-person workshops across Illinois.

This week, the 2024-2025 ISBE CTE Professional Learning Calendar was released. In addition to the three online asynchronous professional learning courses that are running multiple times each year, this 2024-2025 Calendar features 65 workshops, including workshops focused on equity and closing opportunity and achievement gaps, workshops focused on new teachers, workshops focused on the integration of literacy and math instruction, workshops focused on CTE coursework in specific Career Pathways, and workshops to support administrators and counselors.

Please share with educators in your school districts and regions and register today!

P-20 Network Email Newsletter —
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P-20 Network Newsletters will typically come out every two weeks on Friday. The newsletters include updates on critical policy developments, professional development opportunities, success stories from the Network and much more.

You are receiving this message because you have previously attended a P-20 Network Meeting and/or have been on previous P-20 Network emails. We encourage you to forward this email to others in your organization, such as principals, assistant principals, and department chairs by using the Forward to a Friend link below. Others can subscribe by simply completing this very short form.