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What we’ve been up to...

It’s graduation and celebration season, and we hope that you and your community are celebrating the successes of students and staff. Since our last Newsletter, we’ve been... 

• Celebrating graduations and retirements at Northern Illinois University and in regions across Illinois. 

• Leading professional development and regional dialogue around dual credit in McHenry County with leadership from MCC and from school districts across McHenry County. 

• Engaged in planning for summer activities such as this summer’s sold-out Summer Camp for Responsive Education, local events, and more. 

We are looking ahead to the start of summertime professional development and another In the Workplace Aurora employer session coming up in early June. In the meantime, we hope that, whether your students are still in session or not, things are going well in your community! 

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KEEP Illinois Defining Educator Compensation Study

We recently released the KEEP Illinois Defining Educator Compensation study. This study was based on a statewide survey conducted with support from a wide range of partners. In addition to the PDF publication, we also hosted a webinar earlier this week that provides an overview of the study. 

View the webinar 

Read the report 

This study provides a number of recommendations for action locally in school districts as well as for statewide policy consideration. Additionally, as a foundational, exploratory study, this study proposes a wide range of possibilities for additional future research. 

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Career Readiness Research Webinars – on YouTube 

Recently, the Illinois P-20 Network hosted two webinars as part of the Research Webinar Series. Both of these free webinars featured recent Northern Illinois University College of Education doctoral graduates whose dissertations focused on topics related to career readiness. 

Joe Bruno focused his research on student motivation and career and technical education (CTE) course selection. Student Motivation and CTE Course Selection – Dr. Joe Bruno 

Amanda Pelsor focused her research on district-level career readiness implementation in school districts across Illinois. Career Readiness Implementation across Illinois – Dr. Amanda Pelsor 

In addition to these videos, there are countless additional resources on our YouTube channel, from original research to practitioner-focused sharing. 

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ISBE Dual Language Guidance Listening Tour

ISBE has released a second draft of its Illinois Dual Language Guidance. This guidance is intended to support the development and implementation of high-quality dual language programs in school districts across Illinois.  

As part of this effort, ISBE has also engaged in a statewide listening tour with more sessions planned over the coming weeks, including an online virtual session. 

Illinois Dual Language Guidance Information and Session Registration 

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ISBE Student Advisory Council Applications Open 

Applications are currently open for the 2026-2027 Illinois State Board of Education Student Advisory Council. The application window is open until June 30. Students attending an Illinois public school or charter school who will be in grades 10, 11, or 12 during the coming school year are eligible to apply. More information and the application are available on the ISBE Student Voices website. Please share with your students and families! 

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ISAC First Generation Scholars Network 

Do you work in a school district with high school seniors (or very recent graduates now)? If so, please encourage those who are the first in their families that aspire to finish a postsecondary degree to join the Illinois Student Assistance Commission’s First Generation Scholars Network.  

The goal of the ISAC First Generation Scholars Network is to provide a forum for these students to connect with and support one another and to receive additional year-round support from ISAC’s near-peer mentors, ISACorps. Students can learn more and join on the ISAC First Generation Scholars Network website. If students have questions, they are welcome to email: ISAC.FirstGen@illinois.gov. 

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