February 03, 2016
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Mission Statement:
To build the capacity of educational leaders to enhance
 the quality of teaching and learning.

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IL ASCD NEWS
CHECK OUT IL ASCD website at  www.illinoisascd.org
February: ASCD Affiliate Appreciation Month
February is Black History Month
 
 
 
General Resources for Black History Month
Winter Weather Preparedness
IEMA, the NWS and the American Red Cross developed a winter weather preparedness guide that covers winter weather terms and tips for staying safe at home, in the car and at school. The guide is available on the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov. Winter weather preparedness tips also will be posted on the Ready Illinois Facebook  and Twitter.    

Check out our Conferences/Workshops section and choose an opportunity for professional development!   

ASCD congratulates 2014 Affiliate Overall Excellence Award recipient Illinois ASCD. ASCD annually recognizes affiliates to honor their exemplary service to the education community.
 
IL ASCD Illinois Office
P.O. Box 852 
Normal, IL 61761  
Please send me good news about your school!  Anyone taking a new position for next school year or retiring this year, please let me know!   Glenna Adams, Editor gladams@wideopenwest.com 
 
Renee Phillips, Administrative Assistant, reneephillips@mac.com, phone: 309-820-9100. 
Ryan Nevius, Assistant Director, rcneviu@me.com, phone: 618-203-3993.
Katie McKay-Phillips, Social Media & Events, kathrynmckay20@gmail.com 
  
 
Are you already on Facebook?  Check out and LIKE the ILASCD Facebook page  
IL ASCD is now on Facebook!  Visit us at IL ASCD.
  
  
 
 
IL ASCD has a Twitter channel!  Stay current at IL ASCD.      
 
  
 
miller_guidance 
The Common Core State Standards, Teacher Evaluation Systems, Race to the Top funding....Is your system ready?
Built on leading scientific research the Miller Guidance System puts into practice the theoretical underpinnings of federal school reform initiatives.  Created and refined by practitioners, in a variety of settings our practical tools and processes provide the blueprint for school improvement. Is your system ready?
Click below to see a video of what your colleagues are saying about Miller Guidance!
www.millerguidance.com 866-364-9535
ASCD News 
"Here's to the kids who teach us so much and to the educators who learn from them every day," writes ASCD executive director and CEO Deb Delisle in this Education Update column. She shares that, throughout her career, she has had the fortune of collaborating with colleagues fueled by a desire to help all students, and that one of the important things she's learned is that the strong bonds forged between students and a caring educator can mean the difference between hope and despair.

The 71st ASCD Annual Conference and Exhibit Show will be held in Atlanta, Ga., April 2-4, 2016. Keynote presenters will include Carol Dweck; Mike Schmoker; Manny Scott; Pedro Noguera and Alan Blankstein; and Shanna Peeples. The conference will have more than 200 sessions for educators of all roles and interests and special events for attendees to network with educators from across the world. Early bird pricing is available until Feb. 3, 2016.
 
At this three-day institute before the 2016 ASCD Annual Conference in Atlanta, Ga., the authors of Leading for Differentiation will provide an opportunity to explore with fellow leaders the tools and strategies necessary to deepen the motivation, learning and practices of teachers who are responsible for ensuring the growth of the full spectrum of learners in today's schools. From March 30 to April 1, participants will learn what they can do to successfully and collaboratively initiate, implement and institutionalize differentiated instruction practices. 

Cambridge Educational ServicesCambridge has been working with members of ASCD for nearly 25 years providing data-informed lesson plans and supplemental materials to increase ACT/ASPIRE/PSAT/WorkKeys/GED test scores while mastering skills aligned with College Readiness and common core standards.
 
Schools select after-school, semester-long or alongside-the-curriculum models using their own teachers or ours. Professional development, Parent Admission and Student Motivation workshops assist with systemic efforts for greater student achievement.

Contact Mary Parks at 800-444-4373 ext. 226, 847-204-0502(C), or MParks@CambridgeEd.com for additional information.
Advocacy / Governance
IL ASCD's purpose is to inform.  We encourage you to be an informed, involved educator. Watch local, state, and national news for most current events.
 
ASCD has released its first Global Policy Agenda, which makes recommendations to promote the success of students, educators, schools and communities worldwide. The specific global recommendations include establishing a multimetric accountability system, reducing the reliance on standardized testing, promoting a whole child education, and honoring and supporting the education profession. View the agenda. 

The latest issue of Policy Priorities examines the vocabulary that various stakeholders -- including communities, administrators, teachers, parents and students -- use to discuss a whole child approach to education. It reviews similarities and differences among common terms, provides definitions used by specific educational associations, and calls for building a whole-child lexicon that all stakeholders can use -- the aim is to build a vocabulary that is practical, that everyone can use.

ASCD has released updated Whole Child Snapshots for each of the 50 U.S. states to display the progress our nation has made in supporting the whole child as well as the areas where negative trends have continued. The snapshots encompass various stages of a child's development, from prekindergarten through postsecondary education and provide a picture of child success and well-being that extends beyond academic performance.

ASCD's Whole Child Initiative in Illinois
Launched in 2007 ASCD's Whole Child Initiative is an effort to change the conversation about education from a focus on narrowly defined academic achievement to one that promotes the long term development and success of children.  Illinois ASCD supports this premise.

Are you receiving the ASCD Whole Child Newsletter?  Sign up on http://www.wholechildeducation.org  to receive this biweekly free resource and stay up to date on policies and practices, data, strategies, and tools to help you ensure that each child in your community is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.  In addition to this information from ASCD, we are running a series on the Whole Child within our Illinois ASCD Newsletter.  To read the latest edition of our newsletter, visit http://publications.catstonepress.com/i/566315-fall-2015 

In 2012, Illinois Legislature Declared March to be "Whole Child Month."
With the help of Illinois ASCD members, we continue to keep the names of ASCD and IL ASCD in the minds of Illinois legislators as the go-to organization on learning.  They helped us enable the passage of the Whole Child Resolution in Illinois in both houses on March 9, 2012.  As the years progress, our members will continue to keep in touch with our legislators and feel that we have had a say in helping to promote strong educational issues in our state.  Copies of these resolutions can be found below:
Illinois Education News

ISBE Illinois Science Assessment Update Illinois will administer an online science assessment to students in grades 5, 8 and once in high school using an open-source technology platform known as TAO. The high school assessment will be course-based and aligned to the content of Biology I. The testing window will be open throughout May, and we will try to open the window earlier in April, if possible, in order to provide additional flexibility to schools. We have an item-sharing agreement with the Office of the State Superintendent in District of Columbia, and we will be working in partnership with D.C. as we build our NGSS-aligned assessment. We are currently in the process of finalizing the forms for this upcoming spring, and we anticipate providing additional details about the assessment in early February.  The high school courses mapped to the Illinois Science Assessment are listed below:
 
03051A000 Biology
Biology courses are designed to provide information regarding the fundamental concepts of life and life processes. These courses include (but are not restricted to) such topics as cell structure and function, general plant and animal physiology, genetics, and taxonomy.
 
03056A000 AP Biology
Adhering to the curricula recommended by the College Board and designed to parallel college-level introductory biology courses, AP Biology courses stress basic facts and their synthesis into major biological concepts and themes. These courses cover three general areas: molecules and cells (including biological chemistry and energy transformation); genetics and evolution; and organisms and populations (i.e., taxonomy, plants, animals, and ecology). AP Biology courses include college-level laboratory experiments.
 
03057A000 IB Biology
IB Biology courses prepare students to take the International Baccalaureate Biology exams at either the Subsidiary or Higher level. In keeping with the general aim of IB Experimental Sciences courses, IB Biology promotes understanding of the facts, principles, and concepts underlying the biological field; critical analysis, evaluation, and generation of scientific information and hypotheses; improved ability to communicate scientific ideas; and an awareness of the impact of biology and scientific advances in biology upon both society and issues of ethical, philosophical, and political importance. Course content varies, but includes study of living organisms from the cellular level through functioning entities within the biosphere. Laboratory experimentation is an essential component of these courses.

Visit ISBE's Assessment page

The Illinois State Board of Education has approved a proposal to distribute $305 million designated for special education to districts next year to be used for general expenses instead. The change, which still must be approved by lawmakers, is being criticized by special-education advocates. Chicago Tribune

Illinois Governor Launches Effort To Take Over Chicago Schools
The Chicago Tribune (1/20, Geiger) reports that on Wednesday, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) "launched a years-in-the-making all-out assault on the Chicago Teachers Union, pushing a state takeover of the city's public school system." Rauner said that Mayor Rahm Emanuel "had 'failed' to get the job done," the Tribune reports, adding that key Democrats "quickly decried the plan, which also would allow the district to declare bankruptcy." Rauner and Republicans in the state legislature called the plan a "lifeline" for the district, which could become insolvent by the end of the year.
   In a separate article, the  Chicago Sun-Times (1/21) reports that a GOP bill "would allow a state-appointed board to take over the financially troubled Chicago Public School system and pave the way for it to declare bankruptcy," saying the plan is "championed by Gov. Bruce Rauner - and rejected out of hand by Mayor Rahm Emanuel." The Sun-Times notes that the Chicago Teachers Union is moving toward a strike, further complicating Emanuel's position.
   The Chicago Sun-Times (1/21) reports that the plan was presented as a "lifeline" for CPS, which "would allow an oversight board to take over Chicago Public Schools, as it drowns in debt, and create a path to bankruptcy," However, the district "couldn't paddle away fast enough from the offer."
   The  Huffington Post (1/20, Bellware) reports that the "aggressive proposal" comes as the district "faces sinking bond ratings and more than $1 billion in debt for the 2016 fiscal year, largely due to a massive $676 million pension liability." The piece notes that Democrats control the legislature, and "strongly oppose" the plan.
    Politico (1/20), POLITICO New York (1/20), and the  Christian Science Monitor (1/20) also cover this story.
    Chicago Tribune Challenges Democrats To Find Better Alternative. An editorial in the Chicago Tribune (1/20) concedes that there are flaws and political overtones to the Republican plans, but argues that Democrats have yet to propose anything better.

Early Voting Schedule
  • Last Day to Register to Vote for March Primary - February 16, 2016
  • Grace Period Registration and Voting - February 17 through March 15, 2016
  • Early Voting - February 4 through March 14, 2016
Please also contact your local election authority for early voting hours and locations.
ISBE Hot Topics
PARCC Score Toolkit - Communication tools for school leaders available

Click this link for a pdf listing of all House and Senate PK-12 committees. 

Bill Text/Status: Illinois General Assembly www.ilga.gov. Click on Dashboard.    
  
Federal Education News
   
King: ESSA Presents Opportunities for Equity in Education
Acting US Secretary of Education John King is expected today to call for greater efforts to promote education equity. In his remarks, which coincide with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, King is expected to call on civil rights leaders to weigh in on the education debate as states begin to assert more autonomy under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Education Week, The Washington Post  

Compromise Reached in Reauthorizing Child Nutrition Act
Critics of the Child Nutrition Act have reached a compromise with the US Department of Agriculture on compliance with stricter standards for school meals. The School Nutrition Association reports it includes flexibility in meeting goals for sodium reduction, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables. The revisions are expected to be included in the Senate agriculture committee's reauthorization bill, set for markup this week. Education Week
  
Obama Administration Calls For Pell Grant Expansion
The Washington Post reports the Obama Administration is proposing an expansion of the Pell grant program in an effort to give needy students "new incentives to take a full schedule of courses year-round in an effort to boost graduation rates." The plan would allow three dispersals per year instead of two, the Post reports, saying "the administration estimated that the proposal would help nearly 700,000 students in the coming year." The Post quotes Education Secretary John King saying, "We look forward to working with Congress to make these proposals a reality." Meanwhile, Under Secretary Ted Mitchell "told officials Tuesday that money is an overridingconcern for students," saying, "That resonated with the group, and I know it resonates with students around the country."

Education Department Seeks to Improve College-completion Rates
In President Barack Obama's final year in office, the US Department of Education has made improving college-completion rates a top priority. "We know we have a completion problem," Undersecretary of Education Ted Mitchell said. "And we're going to spend the next 365 days really focusing on completion and figuring out ways we can ensure the most vulnerable students get the high-quality education they deserve."U.S. News & World Report
 
ASCD Educator Advocates: www.educatoradvocates.org  
ASCD Legislative Agenda: www.ascd.org/legislativeagenda  
ASCD Policy Points: www.ascd.org/publicpolicy 
To reach Senator Mark Kirk:  Chicago 312-886-3506, in Springfield 217-492-5089, in Washington DC 202-224-2854, by email at Senator@Kirk.Senate.gov. You can also contact Sen. Kirk's outreach person, Randy Pollard at gop2525@gmail.com or randy_pollard@kirk.senate.gov. 217-492-5089.   

To reach Senator Dick Durbin:  Chicago 312-358-4952, in Springfield 217-492-4062, in Carbondale 618-351-1122, in Washington DC 202-224-2152, by email at  www.durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm.You can also contact Sen. Durbin's outreach person, Justin Cajindos, 525 S. 8th Street, Springfield, IL 62703, Phone: (217) 492-4062. E-Mail:Justin_Cajindos@durbin.senate.gov   
Conferences / Workshops
Please note that most workshops/conferences close registration one week prior to the event.  The last day to register is on the registration form.

Successful Assessment 101:  Everything You Need to Know about Tests in a Standards-Based Learning Environment
ILASCD presents Video Workshops for use in Department meetings, Faculty meetings, PLC teams, college classes, parent meetings, Board of Education meetings, grade-level meetings, individual PD.
Not webinars, but live-capture presentations defining and exploring how testing in standards-based learning environments leads to successful growth model attainment.  Each video begins with definitions of the tests in the area being covered. Detailed information about their impact on the learning in classrooms will be provided. Each video allows break times within the 30-45 minute time period for discussion by the viewing group under the leadership of the local host (principal, professor, department chair, PLC leader, etc.).  Each module is $69. What's Included:
  • Downloadable HD Videos
  • Facilitator Directions
  • Participant Handouts
  • PowerPoint Slides
Module Descriptions
  • Module 1: Overview of Assessment Types
  • Module 2: National Assessment
  • Module 3: District Assessment
  • Module 4: Local/Classroom Assessment
You'll get everything you need to facilitate an effective professional development session for your group.  Each video is timed to fit within a 1-hour staff meeting (35 to 45 minutes running time), including ample time for discussion, the included activities, and opening/closing time.The videos are provided in high-definition 1080p MP4 format. We recommend using a large screen with a high-definition projector for the best experience, and providing slide handouts if a smaller screen will be used.less total about 15GB in size. If download speed is a concern, you can also order the program on a USB flash drive.  30-Day Money Back Guarantee  Your purchase is 100% Risk Free.  If you're not happy for any reason, simply let our friendly support team know (via email) and we'll happily refund your money.  Get started now!  

  
Know Your IEIN?
Professional Development Requirement- IEIN Number * When registering and signing attendance for future professional development opportunities provided by school districts, ROE, professional association, or other approved ISBE Provider, you will be required to provide your IEIN which is your Illinois Educator Information Number. * Your personal IEIN can be found on the ELIS site, which is the ISBE site for licensure renewal and PD hour entry. * Please know your IEIN when registering and attending. This requirement protects YOU when ISBE decides to audit your attendance at events.  

2015-2016 Cohort, 2 sessions of CLDN - "ONE DAY AT A TIME" AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3
Ideal for those responsible for curriculum leadership in a school or district setting.  Learn to enhance instructional leadership and gain skills on implementation, data analysis, and implications for curriculum development. Gain invaluable knowledge on PERA, Assessment, NGSS, and PE Standards. Learn how to lead PLC's.  Network and connect with other curriculum leaders. Share resources, explore topics relevant to school improvement planning AND you will also get access to experienced mentors. Frequently we have been asked, "Can I sign up for part of the program?" Now the answer is YES! CLDN sessions will be expanded to include educators and TEAMS OF EDUCATORS who wish to select from varying topics. 1. WHAT ARE YOUR NEEDS? * Select one topic on one date, or select two or more. * Come alone or as a team. * Select Administrators Academy Credit or CPDU's. * Customize to your individual, your school or district needs. 
Feb. 22 - "Vertical/Horizontal Viable Curriculum," Jill Gildea, Superintendent, Fremont SD 79, Elizabeth Freeman, Curriculum Director, Fremont SD 79; "Instructional Rounds" Anne Roloff
April 25 - "Vision, Values & Goals: Leading Change in a Professional Learning Community" AA # 940, Doug Lillydahl, Adlai Stevenson HS; Jill Kingsfield, Ranjana Rajendran, Fenton HS
Meetings take place at HSD 218 Academy, 10701 S. Kilpatrick, Oak Lawn, IL 60543.
Continental breakfast, lunch, free parking, 6 professional development hours, and some sessions offer Administrator Academy credit. Register here. 

PERA--From Joint Committee to Student Growth, Jennifer Garrison, Feb 10, 2016, Forest View Educational Center, Arlington Heights, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
This workshop will share how one district successfully collaborated to make decisions at the local joint committee level to design a teacher evaluation plan aligned to PERA requirements. A student growth model based on Student Learning Objectives developed by the Sandoval CUSD #501 and the joint committee will be shared. Attendees will develop an action plan to implement in their own districts. Attention will be paid to the make-up of the Joint Committee Timeline, PERA implementation timeline and the components of the professional development necessary to implement a student growth model. Teams will develop an action plan using the Sandoval Guideline/Toolkit and the  PEAC Guidance Student Learning Objective for Type 3 Assessments and the Guidance on Creating Operating Guidelines for Student Growth Models in Teacher Evaluation Systems. Six professional development hours, breakfast, lunch, parking. Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005. Register here.
 
Lead and Teach - Classroom Assessments that Empower, Diane Wolf, Feb 11, 2016,
8:30 am - 3:30 pm, Kaskaskia College, Centralia, IL
Classroom assessments should not be overwhelming, but empowering! This is a dynamic workshop that will have you analyze your own assessment beliefs and talents as you begin to formulate your own professional plan for assessment literacy. As leaders in buildings and classrooms, teachers are transitioning to a new assessment era.  This session will be divided into four parts and will have practical suggestions at each turn: * BIG PICTURE: Formulate a "big picture" view of assessment in schools and districts and their different purposes * MINDSETS: Connect how the mindset of the teacher impacts the learning in the classroom * USERS: Determine who are the users of assessments and the data that should be inferred from the assessments * RELATIONSHIPS: Decide how the relationships in a classroom and school influence, for good or bad, the learning that occurs.  Breakfast, lunch, parking, 6 professional development hours are included. Register here. 

35th Annual IL ASCD Statewide Conference for PreK-Kindergarten Educators, Mar 2 - 4, 2016, Renaissance Hotel, Schaumburg, IL
Please join us for an exciting 35th Annual Illinois ASCD Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten Conference at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel on March 2-4, 2016. We are excited by some new faces, new concepts, and new ideas. We will have 25 Featured Presenters and over 65 Concurrent Presenters. As always, you can register for Thursday only, Friday only, or both! School administrators may attend free if you register a team of two or more. Come learn, enjoy, and have fun listening, participating and visiting our exhibit hall. Choose from a wide selection of sessions and explore the extensive exhibit area.  See booklet. Register here.  
 
Special Presentations-Evenings options with Pre-K Kindergarten Conference
Mar 2, 2016, An Evening with Jack Hartmann "Cool Beats to Help Children Read," 6 pm - 8 pm, Renaissance Hotel, Schaumburg, IL. Register Here.
Mar 3, 2016, Books That Nourish the Needs of the Whole Child:  Spark Social and Emotional Learning in Your Classroom, featuring Kathy Brown & Sarah Martino, 6 pm - 8 pm, Renaissance Hotel, Schaumburg, IL. Register Here.   

Student-Centered Leadership: 10 Strategies Leaders Need to Know, PJ Caposey, Mar 15, 2016, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, Woodridge
This  course  offers  practical  strategies  that  will  help district  and  school  leaders  create  and maintain  an effective  student-centered  school  environment.  The session  will  provide  evidence  to show  the  relationship between leadership, student-centered practice and high academic  achievement. Participants  will  leave  with an understanding of how to analyze their leadership style and  current  school  practice.  They  will  also  learn practical techniques to create a plan for increasing the student-centered nature of their school.
OUTCOMES
  • Participants   will   be   able   to   demonstrate   an understanding  of  what    student-centered  leadership means and their influence as a leader in their school.
  • Participants  will  be  able  to  analyze,  develop  and communicate student-focused practices to the school community.
  • Participants will be able to examine their own leadership philosophies and behaviors and will assess their abilities to model and prioritize student-centered practices.
    Participants  will  communicate  their  leadership  story and learn to relate with all stakeholders of the school community  in  the  context  of  a  student-centered school environment.
Breakfast, lunch, parking, 6 professional development hours are included.  Register here.

Performance-Based Assessment in the Classroom, Jay McTighe, Mar 17, 2016, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, Bobak's Signature Events, 6440 Double Eagle Dr.,Woodridge, IL
Design authentic performance tasks to promote meaningful learning and measure what matters most! Curriculum-embedded performance tasks are intended to engage students in applying their knowledge and skills in authentic and relevant contexts.  Authentic tasks can serve as both rich learning activities and assessments of understanding and transfer.  In this workshop, we'll apply practical and proven tools and templates for designing authentic tasks and associated rubrics aligned to core standards and 21st century skills. Participants will:
  • describe the "big picture" of how performance assessments fit into a standards-based system;
  • use a planning framework for selecting assessment methods for your classroom, school or district;
  • apply a variety of practical tools and templates for designing more authentic tasks for your classroom, school or district;
  • review the use of criterion-based scoring tools (rubrics, performance lists) for evaluating and enhancing the quality of student products and performances;
  • identify print and online resources to support the expanded use of performance-based assessments.
Breakfast, lunch, parking, 6 professional development hours are included. Register here.

Registration Now Open for ASCD 2016 in Atlanta, GA, Apr 2 - 4, 2016
From hands-on workshops to inspiring speeches, the 2016 ASCD Annual Conference has more than 200 sessions on an extensive range of topics. So whether you are a new teacher or a seasoned administrator, you can customize a program to meet your professional needs.  Join your peers to share knowledge, learn from others, and gain tools to help lead education into the future. Learn more.   

NEW DATE-Transitioning Students to Appropriate Assessments in Math in the CCSS/PARCC World, Anita Reid, Apr 6, 2016, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, ISU Alumni Center, Normal
We will look at various means to implement an instructional and assessment process moving students towards being more successful on CCSS aligned PARCC assessments for middle and high school math.  This information provided will assist you in taking your existing classroom to the next level of student engagement and eventually achievement.  Topics discussed will be Backward Design lesson planning, Creating Engaging Assessments, Finding Engaging Tasks, and Writing Your own Engaging Tasks.  Numerous resources will be shared. This workshop includes breakfast, lunch, free parking, 6 Professional Development Hours.  Register here.

Using Protocols to Guide Professional Learning, Conversations with Don Kachur (Administrator Academy #1544 ), Apr 7, 2016, Seven Bridges Golf Club, Woodridge, IL 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Protocols are a tool for guiding professional learning conversations, whether they occur at grade level or department-level meetings, professional learning community team meetings, or any other meetings where educators are focused on improving student achievement. Protocols provide a structure or guide for conversations--a series of steps, each with a recommended time frame for completion that a group follows in fixed order, and they specify the roles different people in the group will play (typically a facilitator, a presenter, and participants). Participants in this workshop will learn of the value of protocols and how they are designed to structure conversations when educators within school groups study together, work on problems of practice, and examine student work and other data. Registration Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, 6 Professional Development hours or 6 Administrator Academy Credit.  Register here.   
 
Assessment 201 with Steve Oertle, April 13, 2016, NIU Naperville Campus, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm  
Attendees will collaboratively review, evaluate and revise their own standard-aligned classroom assessments.  A 30-minute overview of the components of high quality local assessments will allow the remainder of the training to lead participants through analyzing and revising the assessments they bring.  The workshop will address paper/pencil assessments, rubric creation, performance tasks and incorporation of student learning objectives (SLOs).  Feedback will be modeled and a large part of the process.  Attendees will potentially leave the workshop with their classroom assessments reviewed, revised and at least partially completed.  Bring materials or laptop with an electronic version. Registration includes, parking, breakfast, lunch, and 6 professional development hours. 
Click here for flyer and registration.

An Evaluator's Guide to the SLO Process for Monitoring Student Growth, Jennie Winters (Administrator Academy Course #1679), Apr 21, 2016, SIU Carbondale, IL, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
This Academy will guide administrators in understanding their role in the SLO (Student Learning Objective) Process.  Evaluators will understand the components of an SLO.  They will evaluate the rigor of the SLO by examining the standards that are chosen and the assessment resources that will be utilized.  They will learn strategies to facilitate development of SLOs and Type III assessments, as well as to monitor the SLO process. Jennie Winters will explain the variety of types of assessments that can be used in a Balanced Assessment System, with a focus on Type III assessments for the purpose of evaluation.  Registration includes parking, breakfast, lunch and 6 professional develpment hours. Register here.

Science is a Verb, not a Noun!, Craig Gaska, Apr 29, 2016, 3:30 am - 3:30 pm, 7 Bridges Golf Club, Woodridge, IL
Science is a verb, not a noun! Science is something that students do. The goal of this workshop is to help you use the Next Generation Science Standards to invigorate science in the classroom. You will learn how to bring the standards to life by using strategies that integrate the NGSS into your current curriculum, not an "add-on." Dr. Gaska will show you how to apply the standards, using a practical unit and lesson planning model that will help you create lessons that will turn your students on to science. Participants need to bring examples of current science units to this hands-on workshop to make the most of the day. Continental breakfast, lunch, free parking, 6 professional development hours. Register here.

School Leadership Practices for Transforming the Attitudes of At-Risk Students, Baruti Kafele, May 5, 2016, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, Goodman Center of Roosevelt University, 501 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605
The complex role of the educational leader is the most important role in bridging the attitude gap!  In this high-energy, highly-interactive workshop, Principal Kafele discusses the characteristics of an effective leadership team in an underperforming school comprised of an at-risk student population.  He will outline what he di to lead the transformation for four low-performing public schools in New Jersey.  Before we can focus on closing the achievement gap, we must first focus on closing the attitude gap-the gap between those students who have the will to strive for excellence and those who do not.  Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, parking, and 6 professional development hours.  Register here.

NCCE 2016, Feb 24 - 26, Seattle, WA
Join us for NCCE 2016, the 45th Annual Conference and Exposition held in Seattle, Washington, at the Washington State Convention Center, February 24-26, 2016. NCCE's conference and expo brings educators of all types and grade levels together to share discoveries and develop solutions for their greatest challenges-all while connecting to a global network of education resources. NCCE 2016 is expecting over 1800 attendees and more than 130 exhibiting companies. Learn More and Register Today

Leadership Legacy Summits, David Anderson, 3 sessions, Renaissance Hotel, Schaumburg, IL Attend one or all three!
Begin your journey to GREAT leadership by attending the Leadership Legacy Summits.  This quarterly series focuses on YOUR leadership, and helps participants to fully understand what true, authentic leadership really is! This Summit will give you the tools to practice great leadership and allow you to find better relationships, improved organizations, increased profits, and new cultures, just to name a few.  The Leadership Legacy Summits will give you a strong foundation for building sound leadership and raising the "lid" on your current leadership quotient.  This is a DO NOT MISS opportunity!
February 19, 2016 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
"What Are You Afraid Of?,"  Getting Out of Your Own Way
May 20, 2016 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
"Think Like a Leader,"  Always Taking the Leader's Perspective
August 26, 2016 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
"360 Degree Leadership,"  Lead from Anywhere.  Take on the Leadership Lifestyle.

Where:  Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg, IL
Cost:  $249 per session, including Networking Luncheon
Register by visiting:  www.theleadershiplegacysummits.com 
From the Field
Should Schools Replace Snow Days With e-learning Days?
Some school districts nationwide -- including in Indiana, Alabama and Ohio -- have adopted e-learning days. The move allows districts to minimize the number of extra days tacked onto the school calendar at the end of the year for snow days and professional-development days for educators. Education Dive

Majority of Illinois School Districts Having Trouble Filling Positions
School districts throughout Illinois, especially in central Illinois, are having a tougher time filling teaching positions and finding qualified teachers, a new survey finds.

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois Approves Excel Center Initiative
Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois' Board of Directors have approved plans to pursue the opening of an Excel Center in Rockford, which aims to bring new educational opportunities to hundreds in the area. 

Do Longer School Days Improve Learning Outcomes?
An Indiana school district is considering adding as much as 40 minutes to the day for elementary students beginning in the 2016-17 school year. David Farbman, senior researcher for the National Center on Time & Learning, says longer school days can improve outcomes for students if the time is spent in meaningful ways, such as providing teachers with more time to collaborate. South Bend Tribune
 
Violent Threats Against Schools Cause Fear, Frustration Across US
The Washington Post reports there is growing concern among educators, parents, and law enforcement authorities over threats made against schools. On Tuesday, many schools across the US received threats from callers claiming they would carry out a mass shooting or a bombing or both. Many of the threats came from robocall devices, which can make it hard to trace. The threats are often vague forcing school officials to decide whether the threat should be taken seriously or not. The article mentions that ED referred a question about the number of school threats to the FBI, but the FBI failed to respond. The article also suggests there is confusion about who is responsible for investigating school threats, because one sheriff in Maryland claimed the local FBI field office in Baltimore was investigating the threats with a special task force, but a representative of that FBI field office said that was not true. The Boston Globe details the threats received by several schools in Massachusetts on Tuesday. At least a dozen schools received bomb threats forcing school officials to decide how to respond. Some schools were evacuated so bomb squads could search for any dangerous devices, while others were closed. A spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives explained that people can use computer programs to make multiple threats at once while shielding one's identity.

Redesigns Make Students a Top Priority
Some schools are redesigning education spaces and re-imagining how students -- and educators -- learn. One school profiled in this article created an Innovation, Discovery and Engagement Area, and another launched a Design Build Lab. District Administration magazine online

STIThe use of technology in classrooms appears to range from none, or minimal, to frequent. STI focuses on teaching strategies that give diverse students multiple options for taking in and processing information, making sense of ideas, and expressing learning. Technology tools can support good instruction and personalized learning environments in which students can interact with soîtware and applications, conduct research, create products, and communicate with others. STI staff work closely with school personnel to produce professional development that integrates the use of existing technologies, connects curriculum and incorporates: Innovation, Curriculum Development Response to Intervention Strategies, Interim Assessments, and Modeling. 
Curriculum / Common Core 
"Each day as the students leave and you sit and think about the day, do you reflect on how you can make your lessons more engaging or hands-on?" asks Tisha Shipley in a new blog on Inservice. Shipley shares that she not only reflects on her own teaching each day, but explains that she also observes colleagues and asks for new ideas. In this post, she goes through 10 different ways to engage students that worked for her.

SAT Redesigned To Align With Common Core
On its website, NPR reports the SAT has been redesigned to better align with Common Core standards, similar to the redesign of the ACT. Many states are considering replacing their eleventh-grade assessment with a college admissions test, the SAT or ACT, and ED has already approved such a change for several states.

Your Guide to Finding and Using PARCC Test Items
Did you know that parents and teachers can view PARCC test items from last year's test? Almost 850 of the test questions are online in the Partnership Resource Center. This guide is designed to help you easily navigate the many test questions and related materials, including sample student responses to open-ended test questions, such as writing tasks, that received high scores and lower scores. The student responses also include annotations that give parents, teachers and students specific guidance on how student work is scored.

ISBE Test and Assessment Home
 
Many PARCC resources have been moved to the end of this newsletter under RESOURCES. 
 
LEARNING.COMElementary STEM- Engage and encourage your elementary students to develop strong STEM skills that will keep them excited and excelling in their later school years. Request a whitepaper: Integrated STEM Education through Project-Based Learning or contact Mark Adzick - Territory Manager, madzick@learning.com or 800-580-4640 x4560, Daniela Kaelin - Inside Sales Representative, dkaelin@learning.com or 800-580-4640 x4495 for more information.
Opportunities
Vacancy:  Superintendent, Hazelwood School District, Florissant, Missouri
Description:  Hazelwood School District is seeking an outstanding committed educational leader to serve as Superintendent for the second largest school district in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Hazelwood serves nearly 18,000 students in 32 schools representing eight communities. This culturally diverse, collaborative learning school community is fully accredited by the state and is ranked as the seventh largest school district in Missouri. The district employs approximately 2,400 professional and support staff providing on-going professional development workshops and training for the staff.  Please go to www.hazelwoodschools.org for more information. The Board expects to offer an initial multi-year contract with a regionally competitive negotiable salary and benefits package based on experience. The position begins July 1, 2016.
Application Procedure:  Application procedures and job requirements can be found on the BWP & Associates website at www.bwpassociates.com. The application deadline is February 14, 2016.  For additional information, please contact BWP & Associates' search team consultants: Dr. Debra Hill, 708.361.4997; Dr. Anne Noland, 630.624.3336; or Dr. Bert Kimble, 573.301.4940.
An equal opportunity employer

Library of Congress Summer Programs K-12 Educators
The Library of Congress is accepting applications for its week-long summer programs for K-12 educators through February 29.  Held at the Library, the professional development provides educators with tools and resources to effectively integrate primary sources into classroom teaching -- with a strong emphasis on student engagement, critical thinking, and construction of knowledge.

Free Tutoring
Mark Smith mark.smith@tutorhunt.com a completely free service for both tutors and students to locate each other.  The website is at www.tutorhunt.com/.

The Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) is pleased to announce the newly redesigned Illinois Education Job Banks at https://www.illinoiseducationjobbank.org.
 
Job Banks At Illinois State Board of Education
The Illinois State Board of Education has two links to job bank sites, click here.    
 
ASCD Job Ramp: A Careers Site for Educators
Developed through a partnership between CareerBuilder and ASCD, the free ASCD Job Ramp website was developed to simplify the job hunt for educators of all professional levels. Access the jobs site day or night, weekend or weekday, to browse U.S. openings in education. And don't forget to take advantage of custom search options and personalized alerts. Browse openings in your area 
 
Collaborative Learning
 
 
 Grants / Awards
The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources
Get a roundup of educational grants, contests, awards, free toolkits, and classroom guides aimed at helping students, classrooms, schools, and communities. Check this page weekly to get the latest updates! www.edutopia.org/grants-and-resources

Teacher-transformation Centers Receive $34.7M Grant
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will donate $34.7 million to help improve teacher quality. The grant will be used to establish five teacher-transformation centers in four states. Education Dive

Campbell's Labels for Education
The Campbell's, Inc. Labels for Education Program gives schools free educational equipment in exchange for labels from Campbell products. Maximum award: varies. Eligibility: Schools or parents coordinate label drives to raise resources for schools. Deadline: N/A.
http://www.labelsforeducation.com/About/about-the-program.aspx
 
WAVELENGTH the Chicago-based, award-winning ensemble of actors and educators, offers an assortment of proven keynotes and workshops that use humor, laughter and improvisation to train, motivate and inspire educational professionals. New options include Uncommon Core Comedy, Those Who Laugh, Last,The 7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Educators, Faculty Lounge, Musical Staff, and The Sense™ of Humor. DVD training also available. For keynotes, workshops or DVDs, please call 877-LAUGHS2 or www.wavelengthinc.com. 
Research
Teens who reported more sleep problems and longer sleep duration -- and whose parents reported longer sleep duration -- had higher cortisol release during and after the Trier Social Stress Test, compared with those who didn't have sleep problems and slept for a shorter duration. The findings in Physiology & Behavior were based on 84 urban, black adolescents with an average age of 13.Medical News Today

Districts Increase Spending on Technology
School districts around the country expect to spend more than last year on computer hardware and software, according to a survey by EdNET Insight. Schools expect to buy more tablets, laptops and desktop computers, and 69% of those surveyed say their districts are spending money to offer some sort of online or blended learning. T.H.E. Journal

Study: Interventions are Not a Silver Bullet
The effects of interventions shown to boost student performance may fade over time, according to a meta-analysis in the journal Intelligence. The researchers say the findings suggest interventions should not be treated as one-time events, but instead should be part of an ongoing educational process.Education Week Teacher
Publications
Igniting Teacher Leadership
In the new ASCD Arias short-form book Igniting Teacher Leadership: How do I empower my teachers to lead and learn?, William Sterrett explains how effective leadership leads to better teachers, who in turn design more powerful learning experiences, empower students, and create better schools. Sterrett offers strategies and examples for fostering teacher leadership, facilitating professional learning, and promoting "growing habits" to help translate key points into practical action steps.
This ASCD Arias short-form book is designed to be read in one sitting with tips and techniques that can be immediately put into practice.  ASCD Arias are available in print and e-book version.

Improve School Culture in the New Year 
In "School Culture Rewired: How to Define, Assess, and Transform It," education experts Steve Gruenert and Todd Whitaker draw from their research on organizational cultures and school leadership to provide tools, strategies and advice for defining, assessing and transforming a school's culture. The authors share a framework for shaping a new school culture and instructions for creating and implementing a "school culture rewiring team." Gruenert and Whitaker also offer tips for recruiting and retaining teachers who want to improve their school's culture and provide "culture-busting" strategies that will help teachers develop better attitudes, outlooks and behaviors.

New ASCD Publication Explains How Quality Questioning Can Spark Student Discussions 
Educators who are looking to engage students' minds and turn classroom conversations into meaningful discussions can pick up a copy of ASCD's latest publication, Questioning for Classroom Discussion: Purposeful Speaking, Engaged Listening, Deep Thinking. Authors Jackie Acree Walsh and Beth Dankert Sattes explain how to use quality questioning techniques to facilitate student-driven classroom discussion and ensure that students develop the speaking, listening and thinking skills needed for effective discourse. 

In the ASCD publication, Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management, Dominique Smith, Douglas Fisher, and Nancy Frey lay out a practical blueprint for creating a cooperative and respectful classroom climate in which students and teachers work through behavioral issues together. This book provides a comprehensive overview of restorative practices, a positive and proactive alternative to a traditional rewards and punishment approach. The authors also share how teachers can establish procedures and expectations for student behavior, develop a rapport with challenging students and implement conflict resolution strategies that prioritize relationship building and mutual understanding.
Internet Sources
SuperKids
Are your students reading as well as they should be? We can help. Learn about The Superkids, the strongest K-2 reading program in America. Read teachers' raves, see results-and improve reading scores at your school. Contact Susan Quarino at sue.quarino@rowlandreading.org or click here for more details, www.superkidsreading.org.


How the ESSA Supports STEM Instruction
The Every Student Succeeds Act mentions science, technology, engineering and math education more than 100 times, consultant and author Anne Jolly writes in this blog post. She highlights several ways the ESSA supports STEM. MiddleWeb

School districts can foster collaboration between teachers and administrators with training sessions that bring them together, former elementary-school principal Peter DeWitt asserts in this blog post. "In order for anything to be implemented successfully leaders and teachers need to share the same room," DeWitt writes. Education Week  

There are many small steps all leaders can take to change the perception, attitude and behavior of a school's staff. This blog post shares 11 culture-busting strategies from Steve Gruenert and Todd Whitaker, authors of "School Culture Rewired: How to Define, Assess, and Transform It," that can help to define, assess and transform a school's culture into one that is positive, forward looking and actively working to enrich students' lives.

3 Ways ESSA Supports Teacher Voice
The Every Student Succeeds Act opens the door for more teacher voice in policy and reform, Maddie Fennell, a teacher-leader in residence at the US Department of Education, writes in this blog post. She highlights three ways the new federal education law supports teacher voice. Education Week Teacher
In this commentary, Thomas Murray, digital-learning director for the Alliance for Excellent Education, shares several tips for writing education tweets. "Great tweets are relevant, usable, and/or thought-provoking for the viewer, thus it's imperative for educators to connect with others with similar passions and interests," he writes. eSchool News

In this blog post, Ari Flewelling, a staff-development specialist for Riverside Unified School District in California, offers tips to help educators save and share browser tabs. One suggestion is One Tab, which allows teachers to save a group of tabs and share them as a link with students. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education

More than 30 school leaders and education-thought leaders offer predictions for education in 2016. Leighangela Brady, assistant superintendent for education services, predicts new models of professional development that include more teacher choice and blended approaches. District Administration magazine

5 Alternatives to New Year's Resolutions
Avoid the temptation to make big New Year's resolutions, transformational leadership coach Elena Aguilar writes in this blog post. "Say no to New Year's resolutions and yes to small and sustained changes," she writes. She offers five alternative strategies for making changes. Edutopia.org

RESOURCES:
To make sure that students do not leave money on the table, the Department has prepared a number of blog posts:
Also, Acting Secretary King recorded a video encouraging students to complete the FAFSA.Visit StudentAid.gov for complete information on federal financial aid, including types of aid available, qualification criteria, and managing loans.
Website Offers Resources for Using Tech With Struggling Learners
PowerUp WHAT WORKS offers resources and tools designed to help educators use technology to better support struggling students and learners with disabilities. The site offers curated materials for teachers, professional development coaches and school administrators.

Visit the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Accelerated Model Course Pathways - a resource that offers guidance to schools and districts seeking to organize NGSS performance expectations into a compressed time frame.

Website Offers Free Hands-on Science Activities
The Exploratorium, in San Francisco, has launched "Science Snacks," an online library of free hands-on science activities for students in grades 6-12. Each "snack" is designed to be built with inexpensive, common materials. Activities come with instructions, suggestions and explanation of scientific theory employ.

This blog post includes a summary of the top tech tips from 2015. They include tips to help determine how much students are grasping in a one-to-one classroom, ways in which to use Google Tone, and pointers to help create how-to videos in the classroom. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education

ACT Releases 2015 STEM Report
The Condition of STEM 2015 is now available on the ACT website. This is the third edition of our annual Condition of STEM report series.

The English Learner Toolkit is a companion to the English Learner Guidance released by the Departments of Education and Justice in January 2015, consisting of 10 chapters, each chapter aligned to one of 10 sections of the guidance.  Included within the toolkit are tools and resources for identifying students as English Learners (ELs), delivering high-quality EL programs, evaluating the effectiveness of EL programs, preventing unnecessary segregation, providing qualified staff, ensuring access to school programs and activities (including disability-related services), exiting students from EL programs at the appropriate time, monitoring students' progress, and supporting EL parents.  The free toolkit can be easily downloaded and printed online (blog post).

A new online community, called Playbook, is providing teachers a place to share best practices and learn about classroom strategies used by other educators. The community, provided by Panorama Education, also includes a student-feedback loop to assess effectiveness of the lessons. Xconomy

Website Offers Open Education Resources, Online Community for Educators
Educators have a new way to access Open Education Resources. Curriki.org
offers free, vetted learning materials, plus a professional network (called Curriki Groups) where educators can collaborate and exchange ideas. 

Website Offers Free Instructional Resources for K-12 Teachers
Educade, from GameDesk, is an online library of free K-12 instructional resources, including lesson plans, applications, games and hands-on activities. Teachers can search for resources by grade level, subject matter and technology type. Users must register in order to access the library.

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) is an online teaching and learning resource from federal agencies. Topics that enhance the academic growth of all children can be found at http://free.ed.gov/, the FREE homepage.   

Social media can be a powerful learning tool for educators, asserts Steven Anderson, a former teacher and technology director. He spoke recently at the TCEA 2015 conference, where he offered seven tips to help teachers use Twitter more effectively. EdTech magazine online 

Google+ and Twitter offer teachers an opportunity to build their professional learning networks, according to Thomas Murray, a director at the Alliance For Excellent Education, and Steven Anderson, a former director of instructional technology in North Carolina. In this article, they share eight ways that teachers can make the most of social networks, including how to use hashtags effectively. eSchool News 

Illinois Department of Natural Resources presents:  
Standards-based Lesson Plans
The IDNR offers lessons developed with Illinois Learning Standards as their foundation. You can download them at http://dnr.state.il.us/education/CLASSRM/Kits.htm or http://dnr.state.il.us/education/standards.htm. You'll find several topics to choose from for a variety of grade levels.

Illinois State Board of Education
Illinois districts are piloting state-developed model math units to help students master concepts at each grade level as schools implement internationally-benchmarked learning standards that emphasize depth of knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The nationally-recognized units are the first of their kind, developed by a statewide team of educators...  Check out the models 

Resource: Mathematics Guides
Newly created Informational Guides to the Summative Assessments in Mathematics provide information about the design and structure of the PARCC mathematics assessments for each grade/course. These guides were created to assist educators in understanding the mathematics content, inform instruction, and provide information about the mathematics test administration policies. The guides were developed by the PARCC Mathematics Operational Working Group, a group of PARCC state content and assessment specialists who work together to make PARCC mathematics policy decisions and ensure the quality of the assessments.

Lesson Plans to Teach Students About Data Breaches, Online Privacy
Cyberattacks and data breaches at some major retailers and government websites have been big news. This blog post offers tips and lesson plans to help educators teach students about topics including cybersecurity, online safety, privacy and digital citizenship. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/The Learning Network blog

Digital-learning specialists Anna Adam and Helen Mowers offer a roundup of free resources to introduce students to coding. "Graduates with programming skills are in high demand, and it's clear those numbers will only increase," they write. Edutopia.org/Coding in the Classroom blog
 
PARCC/Common Core Resources

PARCC Releases Translated Score Reports
The sample score reports are now available in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, Navajo, Haitian, Marshallese, Polish, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.  The translated reports are available on the  PARCC website.

PARCC Unbundles Testing System
Check out the Student Achievement Partners' Coherence Map. Their interactive website illustrates the connections between Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
 
Webinar: Sarah Martino and Kathy Brown Present:  Kindergarten and the Common Core: It's as Easy as ABC!  
Kindergarten teachers everywhere are currently stressed about meeting the new rigorous common core standards. How can we possibly teach with such high expectations and maintain developmentally appropriate environments? Don't let these demands defeat you. Join us as we unfold how to create a magical common core aligned kindergarten.  Webinar registration link https://vimeo.com/84910703 

We have gathered a list of our favorite PARCC resources for educators. Each resource is paired with a brief description to ensure that educators can quickly locate important information about PARCC.

PARCC Illinois Resources
The Illinois State Board of Education created a helpful resource for teachers and parents outlining the top 10 things teachers need to know about the new Illinois assessments. 

The National Association of Elementary School Teachers has created "Implementing the Common Core Standards: The Role of the Elementary School Leader Action Brief," a guide outlining best practices for transitioning to the Common Core. Click  here to read the guide.

Blended Learning Resources
ASCD RESOURCES:

ASCD Resources on Assessment
ASCD Resources for Blended Learning
ASCD Resources on Common Core
ASCD Resources on Data  
ASCD Resources for Educational Leadership
ASCD's PD In Focus platform gives you and your colleagues online access to ASCD's extensive library of videos demonstrating effective teaching practices. Each video clip is designed to be used with additional provided resources in group learning.
The premier collaborative, on-demand professional development system for professional learning communities, schools, districts, and states, PD In Focus has the features you need to integrate video into your PD, including
  • Hundreds of hours of classroom examples that bring successful teaching to life
  • Group discussion boards.
  • Search by topic, grade level, subject area, classroom type, pedagogy, and more.
  • Ability to suggest assignments and monitor learning activity.
Your free 14-day trial includes access to all channels and topics. Explore the potential of PD In Focus to create powerful, ongoing professional development that is differentiated to all kinds of users and groups. Learn more about PD In Focus and start your free trial today!

ASCD -- There's An App For That
The free ASCD application for iPad brings valuable professional development content to educators everywhere. The app enables you to read ASCD e-books and, if you're an ASCD member, access issues of our flagship publication, Educational Leadership. Members will also be able to access ASCD newsletters, including Education Update and Policy Priorities. Download the app. 

Browse EL, Our Blog, and Many Other Educator Resources on ASCD's Mobile Site
Whether you'd like to access an archived Educational Leadership article for today's faculty meeting or just want to read the latest education policy post in our Inservice blog, use ASCD's mobile site as your one-stop-shop for resources. Simply go to www.ascd.org on your mobile device to access the site and explore the wealth of resources we've opened to you. Visit our mobile site now  

Follow us on Twitter ASCD has five Twitter channels, each intended to connect you with different aspects of our work and the latest developments in our field. Stay current on education news, policy developments and general education discussion by following @ASCD our main channel. Don't forget to take advantage of additional opportunities to connect with ASCD experts in real time.  Engage ASCD blogger Laura Varias @ASCD_Inservice, join the Whold Child team for important updates @WholeChildAdv, get the latest ASCD resources from @ascdmember and follow the Educational Leadership team @Ed_Leadership.Connect with all five channels   
ASCD curates six boards that are home to pins on topics ranging from professional development to a whole child approach to education. 
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This electronic publication is sent to you every other Wednesday. This is a benefit brought to you as part of your membership in Illinois ASCD. We hope you will share with other educators. "Education Briefs is an electronic publication of Illinois ASCD and not a publication of ASCD and the views expressed or implied should not be construed as official positions of Illinois ASCD nor ASCD."

Sincerely,
Illinois ASCD