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February 18, 2008, Volume 2, Issue 23
This page can also be viewed by clicking http://www.ilprincipals.org/principal_connect/index.html
IPA Lobby Day – April 10, 2008
Staying connected with your legislators is as important now as it has ever been. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with your State Senator and Representative to let your voice be heard about legislative issues important to you and your school. Find out more information about IPA Lobby Day by visiting http://www.ilprincipals.org/pages/lobby_day.html or contact DeJuan Kea, IPA Government/Public Relations Director, at dejuan@ilprincipals.org. Administrator Academy credit is also available!
IPA Offers Members Opportunity to Dialogue Key Questions
IPA has begun a new service for members to dialogue online about "Key Questions" that
are impacting schools and educational leaders. The first key question centers on the
implementation of RTI and can be found at http://web.mac.com/ilprincipals/IPA/The_
Principals_Principles/Entries/2008/1/29_Key_Question%3A__Response_To_
Intervention.html Please feel free to share how this important issue is impacting you
and how your school is moving forward. If you have any suggestions for other
"Key Questions," please email jason@ilprincipals.org.
Important Announcement from ISBE
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will be making some enhancements to the existing Educator Certification System (ECS.) Among those enhancements will be a public search portal. This portal will assist districts in reviewing certification and Highly Qualified information for educators employed in their districts. This information will also be available for the public to view. ISBE is encouraging everyone to view their public information before the site goes live. In order to view your information as the public would, please visit the ECS site at: https://sec1.isbe.net/ecs/ and in the lower right hand corner log in under the “District Administrators: Look Up Staff Here” and enter your SSN or IEIN, and your last name. This will bring up the public information about your certification. Please review the information carefully and if you have any questions about any information please contact your local Regional Office of Education (ROE). You must use the last name as it appears on your certificate in order to log in. Some of the information you can change in the system directly, which will require you to log in to your personal ECS account directly, while other information will require the assistance of your ROE or ISBE staff.
Lincoln Library Workshop for Teachers
President Lincoln invites Illinois teachers to join him for an exciting morning at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. The event is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, March 13.
Join the Illinois Council on Economic Education and the Federal Reserve Banks of Chicago and St. Louis for a teacher workshop, “Abraham Lincoln and the $5 Note.” Learn about the newly redesigned $5 note, being officially unveiled that day. And watch fifth grade students make the first purchase in Illinois with the new $5 bill – buying from Mr. Lincoln himself!
Teachers who attend this workshop will receive continental breakfast and lunch, lessons and materials for teaching about the new $5 note and Lincoln, and materials for teaching about money, the Federal Reserve, banking and more. Continuing professional development credit is available.
To register, call or e-mail Carol Manning at 217-558-8929 or carol.manning@illinois.gov. Once you are registered, you will receive a confirmation letter, map and parking information. Space is limited.
This workshop is sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the Federal Reserve banks of Chicago and St. Louis, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Illinois Council on Economic Education. For a copy of the workshop invitation, go to http://www.econed-il.org/icee/docs/2008/lincoln_flyer.pdf.
Improving Literacy through School Libraries Program Competition
The U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) Improving Literacy through School Libraries (LSL) Program has announced its 2008 competition focused on providing funding to public local school libraries in districts with 20 percent or more family poverty.
Approximately 18.5 million dollars will be available for funding to public school districts, charter schools or state-administered schools, with an estimated 80 grants to be awarded in this competition. Funds are used to improve reading achievement through updating library collections, expansion of internet connections, purchase of new technology, professional development for library media specialists, and the extension of school library hours.
Applications are due on Friday, March 7. The application package can be found on www.grants.gov along with instructions for registering. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Irene Harwarth, Team Leader, at irene.harwarth@ed.gov.
FY2009 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants
Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the Illinois State Library are pleased to announce that applications are now available for FY2009 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants.
LSTA grants are some of the most popular grants the State Library offers each year, and this year's offerings include several new categories. Information and applications may be found online at
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/what_we_do/lsta2009.html.
Important dates to remember are Wednesday, April 2, the deadline for Letters of Intent to be submitted; and Monday, May 12, when the full application must be postmarked or hand delivered to the Illinois State Library.
LSTA grant opportunities are made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Illinois State Library.
Survey Request from the Illinois State Deans Association
The job as disciplinarian at a school can be very trying. Often, Deans are left wondering how other schools handle a particular issue, what does the latest research say, and what legal issues are involved. The Illinois State Deans Association is an organization formed specifically to provide support and resources for Deans as they work through the myriad of situations that come across their desk on a daily basis. The primary delivery method of these resources is the Annual Fall Conference held in November. In addition to providing information on everything from Re-certification to legal issues, attendees may also earn Administrator Academy Credit. In an effort to make the Fall Conference as meaningful as possible to as many Deans as possible, we are asking that you please click on the internet address below and fill out the survey in a way that best represents your needs. If you are not the disciplinarian at your school, it would be greatly appreciated if you would forward this e-mail to that person.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=6YuHHHIY_2bV_2b514_2fmr9CdTg_3d_3d
Illinois State Bar Association Workshop
The Illinois State Bar Association is having an upcoming workshop that may be of interest to teachers, principals and superintendents. Entitled “The Ongoing Struggle: Balancing Students’ Education Rights v. Student Safety,” this event will feature a series of practical constitutional debates between school district attorneys and attorneys who represent student interests. Continuing professional development hours are available for this event. For additional information and registration materials, see: http://www.isba.org/lawed/2008/studentsrights02/.