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What we’ve been up to... 

We hope everyone was able to rest and recharge over the Winter Break period! Working in educational organizations, we know that the rest of the year will be stressful with evaluations, planning for next year, student assessments, and graduation ceremonies. Despite all of that, we’re excited to collaborate with everyone across the Dual Credit Think Tank, KEEP Illinois, and more! 

Since the last Newsletter, we’ve primarily been working on some key research projects, but we’ve also been busy with a few other things... 

• Prairie-Hills School District 144 EDI Institute Day – On Monday, January 6, 2025, we were excited to attend the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Institute Day with Prairie-Hills School District 144 held at the Tinley Park Convention Center. With presentations ranging from instructional strategies to curriculum to staff wellness and how that supports student learning, it was an extremely fun day filled with complex and deep learning.  

• SkillsUSA Illinois – As previously shared, the NIU P-20 Research and Data Collaborative, through both the Illinois P-20 Network and the Workforce Policy Lab at the NIU Center for Governmental Studies, has been working through the SkillsUSA Illinois Apprenticeship Landscape Analysis. As you are receiving this today, we are in Pekin to share the data analysis and the findings with the SkillsUSA Illinois team. Thank you to SkillsUSA Illinois, again, for their support of this important project. 

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ECN Conference 2025: Student-Centered Coaching with Diane Sweeney 

Student-Centered Coaching introduces a new way of delivering instructional coaching that puts the needs of students front-and-center. By focusing coaching on goals for student learning, rather than on fixing teachers, an instructional coach can directly impact instructional practice and student achievement.  

By popular demand, we are thrilled to welcome back Diane Sweeney to ECN for our annual conference. Diane believes that Student-Centered Coaching can transform teaching and learning in K-12 schools. 

This full day of in-person learning will be of value to prospective coaches, new coaches, and experienced coaches, as well as any school leader interested in creating a culture of coaching in their school or district. We encourage you to bring your entire team to the conference!

Registration is $375 and includes parking, breakfast, lunch, materials, and 6 Professional Development Hours (PDHs). Groups of 3 or more receive a $50 discount per person. Register by March 1, 2025, to receive an additional $25 discount per person.

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2025 Engaged Learning Conference

Join educators from across Illinois on January 24, 2025, at Heartland Community College in Normal for this year’s Engaged Learning Conference: Engaged for Student Success. This one-day interdisciplinary conference will equip PK-12 educators to maximize student success through engaged learning for students and staff. Breakout sessions with expert guest speakers, district and school staff, and IL MTSS-N and NIU STEAM coaches will provide practical examples, actionable strategies, networking opportunities, and lessons learned.

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There are so many great strategies being implemented to support student success with dual credit across Illinois from the classroom to regional systems.  

We look forward to attending this year’s ILACEP Dual Credit Summit at both locations, and we are excited to learn from and with educators from both school districts and postsecondary institutions! 

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New Workshop – ISBE PD Plus: How-to and Why 

In this webinar, which will be held on January 16, 2025, from 1:30 to 2:30 PM, participants will learn how to use ISBE's PD Plus system for professional development hours and evaluations. The idea for this webinar originated from instructional coaches across Illinois at our first ECN Foundations of Instructional Coaching workshop this year. 

Participants will not only learn how to use this system, but they will also learn how their use of the system can create new efficiencies for school districts, regional offices of education, professional organizations, and other professional development providers, as well as for the educators being served. 

This webinar is free to Illinois P-20 Network Partner Plus members, and non-members can register to attend individually for $35. Registrants will receive a calendar invite with a Zoom link to attend the session. 

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Again, My Data Dashboard is available through the secure sign-in available via the MyIRC portal. To access the MyIRC portal, click “Login” at the top right corner of the Illinois Report Card website. 

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