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What we’ve been up to... |
Like all of you, we want to acknowledge that we have spent a fairly significant amount of time over the past two weeks reading Executive Orders and discussing those, both internally and with many of you across Illinois, as well as with colleagues across the United States. At the same time, we’ve also been very happy to busy ourselves with moving our collective work forward to create new and better learning opportunities for people of all ages across Illinois. In the meantime, here’s what we’ve been up to...
Sauk Valley Community College – We're excited to be working up new collaborations with Sauk Valley Community College, Regional Office of Education 47, and school districts throughout the region. Shout out to the eagles living in the trees along the Rock River just behind SVCC!
Educational Coaching Network – This week, we hosted two Foundations of Instructional Coaching sessions with coaches from across Illinois and beyond. Michelle Harris, from Jim Knight’s Instructional Coaching Group, presented two interactive sessions that covered everything from helping educators want to engage in coaching to using data in ways that are effective and supportive.
Planning with School Districts and Community Colleges – In the coming weeks and months, we’re excited to be out in the field facilitating custom and novel learning experiences designed to meet local needs on topics ranging from dual credit to classroom instructional strategies to strategic planning. Developing these experiences and understanding local needs has been a major priority in recent weeks and a true honor.
SkillsUSA Illinois Apprenticeship Landscape Analysis – SkillsUSA Illinois has the final report from this study, and we are currently developing support materials. We look forward to sharing this important foundational work about apprenticeships, internships, and work-based learning with educators and industry professionals very soon.
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ECN Conference + Online Learning Opportunities
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We are excited to be welcoming Diane Sweeney back for this year’s ECN Conference on April 24, 2025. This session is ideal for coaches and administrators to attend as Diane will walk us through some of the most critical issues to get right for school culture, educators’ growth, the long-term success of instructional coaching, and, ultimately, for student success. Check out this short video Diane recorded for more information!
In addition to the ECN Conference, the Educational Coaching Network has also added new online, after-school workshops based on feedback from participants across Illinois. These sessions include…
If you do not already receive the ECN Newsletter that comes out at the end of each month, sign up for free today!
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ISBE Listening Tours and More
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ISBE has launched two Listening Tours – one focused on the assessment and accountability system and another focused on the needs of the field for a version 2 update to IWAS, ISBE’s primary system for collecting data from local education agencies. Click below for more information on each of these Listening Tours:
In addition, with the move of kindergarten from half-day to full-day in school districts across the state, it is critical that districts update ISBE on their plans prior to March 1 for inclusion in the Evidence-Based Funding Formula calculation for the 2025-2026 school year. Any school district that wishes to make this change for the 2025-26 school year must email ISBE with a board resolution expressing the intent to make the change for the next school year, as well as the minutes from the meeting when the resolution was approved. If you have
questions, contact sff@isbe.net or 217-782-0249.
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Register for ISBE Listening Tour Events
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Illinois Council on Family Relations Conference
A great opportunity for teachers, administrators, clinicians, counselors, faculty, and postsecondary students
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The Illinois Council on Family Relations will hold its annual Conference on April 4, 2025, at Northern Illinois University. The theme for this year’s conference is Strengthening America’s Safety Net – Supporting Women, Children, and Families. This is a great opportunity for both students and practicing educators at all levels, from early childhood through postsecondary, to come together and collaborate with a wide range of practitioners and researchers on how to most effectively engage, partner with, and serve families.
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Submit a Proposal
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Register
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New Virtual Transitional Math Option |
The Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act requires school districts to provide transitional instruction courses in English Language Arts and Math. These courses are aimed at preparing high school seniors for college-level courses.
Illinois Virtual Schools and Academy is excited to announce the availability of a Virtual QL/Stats Transitional Math Course to help districts fulfill the mandate. The new course serves as a prerequisite for General Education Statistics, General Education Mathematics, Quantitative Literacy, Elementary Mathematical Modeling, or a technical/occupational mathematics pathway.
This course is already approved for statewide portability. To receive statewide portability for this course, you must enroll using the full virtual course package as is and the teacher of record provided via the Illinois Virtual Schools and Academy (IVSA). This course is eligible for reimbursement through the ISBE Virtual Course Catalog.
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Do you still have a Mimeograph Machine?
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The NIU Libraries are setting up a Book Lab, joining a small group of university libraries across the United States that look at the history of books and book design. The Book Lab will enable faculty, students, and community members to gain a historical understanding of various technologies of text production from medieval manuscripts to current digitization.
As part of this Book Lab, the technology to create books is one key element, and the NIU Libraries would like to include a mimeograph machine. We’re reaching out to see if a school district or community college may still have one in a basement or closet that you are willing to donate! If so, please contact Kate Swope, NIU’s Assistant Director of Learning Partnerships.
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Apprenticeship Expansion – Notice of Funding Opportunity
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This opportunity is available to school districts and community colleges!
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has launched the 2025 Apprenticeship Expansion Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support high-impact Apprenticeship Intermediaries. This program seeks to expand Registered Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeships in Illinois, particularly in non-traditional and in-demand fields.
Program Highlights
Eligible Applicants: Community-based organizations, municipalities, education institutions (e.g., school districts, community colleges), industry associations, state agencies, workforce boards, and non-profits that will serve as high-impact Intermediaries and have the capacity to meet program requirements
Information Sessions
Attendance is recommended but not required at DCEO’s following information sessions:
For more information
For inquiries, contact Chase.Martin2@Illinois.gov or attend an information session. Details are available on the NOFO website at IllinoisworkNet.com/ApprenticeshipNOFO2025.
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Teacher-Focused Scholarships for 2025-2026 |
Please share with teachers, postsecondary students, and high school students! Please share with counselors and advisors as well as financial aid and human resources staff!
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to make current teachers, as well as students planning to become teachers, aware of key teacher education program applications for the 2025-2026 academic year.
These important programs and their application deadlines are:
Applications and other details may be accessed on the ISAC website.
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P-20 Network Email Newsletter —
Pass it along today!
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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.
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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.
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Forward this message by using the “Forward to a Friend” button below.
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Copyright © 2025 Illinois P-20 Network, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Illinois P-20 Network
Lowden Hall
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
United States
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