P-20 Network Newsletter — September 8, 2023

On September 6, 2023, the Illinois Dual Credit Think Tank hosted a webinar to highlight and share the Higher Learning Commission’s proposed policy changes to its Faculty Qualifications. Aimee Galvin (Stand for Children Illinois) and Rodrigo López (Illinois P-20 Network) hosted the webinar to help practitioners learn about the proposed changes as well as their potential implications for school districts and postsecondary institutions across Illinois. Attendees also had the opportunity to engage in discussion, and share their perspectives about how this might impact their partnerships at the local level.

School districts and postsecondary institutions can provide feedback to HLC until September 18, 2023.

Student-Centered Coaching is an evidence-based instructional coaching model that shifts the focus from “fixing” teachers to collaborating with them to design instruction that targets student outcomes. Over six days throughout the year, this institute will take a deep dive into this coaching approach with expert Diana Sweeney. Diane is an educator, coach, author, and highly sought-after facilitator.

Institute Overview

November 29-30 – Core practices for Student-Centered Coaching, including using standards and evidence from students to anchor coaching as well as examining the impact of coaching styles

February 7-8 – Focus on school culture and teacher engagement through teacher self-efficacy and school improvement
April 10-11 – Exploration of reflective dialogue with opportunities for practice and problem solving

The year-long Institute format of paired days separated by weeks provides the chance to reflect and start implementing Student-Centered Coaching in your local school context. All six sessions will be delivered in person at NIU’s Naperville campus with plenty of parking, food, and camaraderie to make everyone’s learning experience positive and memorable.

Save the date! Join the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for a day of networking and collaboration between Illinois CTE educators and state administrators on June 18, 2024, at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

Planning is well underway for the 2024 ISBE Career Connections Conference. As part of planning the specific program for next year's conference, we would greatly appreciate your input! Please complete this very short survey by Monday, September 18, 2023. Your responses will be anonymous and will provide valuable feedback on the final development of the conference.

NIU Esports is hosting its first Healthy Gaming Day! Designed exclusively for high school and college Esports directors and coaches, Healthy Gaming Day consists of in-person, interactive sessions by industry experts covering nutrition, physical health, mental health, academic support, and diversity in competitive scholastic esports. Attendees will leave with tools, ideas, and techniques they can implement in their esports programs. The event takes place at Northern Illinois University’s Esports Arena, on Friday, October 6 from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Cost is $170. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Seating is limited to 50, so register today.

Marco DALE launches on October 24, 2023 with a special preview on October 18 at the WIDA Annual Conference. El Marco de los estándares del desarrollo auténtico del lenguaje español de WIDA (Marco DALE) is a framework for instruction, curriculum, professional development, and assessments of Spanish language development of bi/multilingual learners who are learning in Spanish.

Marco DALE:

Serves grades K-12 within bilingual education contexts and heritage and world language settings
Supports collaboration among members of the teaching community and interactions among bi/multilingual learners
Promotes the integration of language and academic content via the presence of multiliteracies in education
Encourages equity of opportunity and access through the transculturalism demonstrated by bi/multilingual individuals
Continues to advance the field of language development and academic achievement for bi/multilingual learners, pushing forward the latest theory, policy, and practice
Aligns with Marco ALE and the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition. Visit the Marco DALE webpage at wida.wisc.edu/marcoDALE for more information.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) has announced its fifth annual FAFSA Symposium and has opened a call for proposals. The FAFSA Symposium is a one-day event about best practices to support students in completing a financial aid application. Two different Symposium options will be held:

October 25, 2023 – Illinois Central College

November 7, 2023 – Moraine Valley Community College

For more information about the symposium, visit the FAFSA Symposium page.

Call for Proposals - School counselors, college and career staff, financial aid administrators, community-based organizations, and other college-access professionals who support students and families through the financial aid process are invited to submit a session proposal to present at one or both locations for the FAFSA Symposium. The online session proposal form is now open and will close Friday, September 8, 2023. Session guidelines can be found on the FAFSA Symposium page, as well as on the session proposal form.

For questions, contact isac.outreachtraining@illinois.gov.

P-20 Network Email Newsletter —
Pass it along today!

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, department chairs by using the Forward to a Friend link below. Others can subscribe by simply completing this very short form.