Blogs

Alliance Legislative Report 101-13

By Alison Maley posted 6 days ago
Be the first to like this.
SIGNIFICANT BILL ACTION THIS WEEK The Illinois General Assembly took action on several major pieces of legislation this week. Bills regarding teacher salaries, compulsory school attendance age, superintendent sharing, charter schools, and pensions all advanced. Both chambers finished up their work today and have now hit the half-way point of the session. When the Senate and House of Representatives resume again on April 30, the Senate will be taking up House bills and the House will be considering Senate bills. The Senate Executive Committee Wednesday approved Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 1 that proposes to amend the Illinois Constitution ...
0 comments

Alliance Legislative Report 101-12

By Alison Maley posted 13 days ago
Be the first to like this.
ALLIANCE LEGISLATIVE REPORT (10 1 - 1 2 )   -  LEGISLATION CHANGES CHAMBERS BEFORE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BREAK   The Illinois House of Representatives and Senate spent the majority of the week working through bills on their respective chamber floors while also amending bills in committees to posture them for passage before next week’s deadline.    With no action this week on the teacher minimum salary bill, the Physical Education mandate bills, or comprehensive teacher shortage legislation, next week will likely determine the direction of the rest of session as the General Assembly moves towards the May 31st adjournment date. While ...
0 comments

MICRO-CREDENTIAL PILOT PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS

By Susan Homes posted 16 days ago
Be the first to like this.
Our micro-credential program focused on school leadership is growing!  We are seeking pilot participants for a new stack  of micro-credentials focused on leadership communications!  Pilot participants have an opportunity to earn micro-credentials  free of charge during the pilot phase. Interested? Read the following document which provides a brief overview of each of the four micro-credentials available to pilot in the LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS stack. The participant requirements and benefits are also included.  COMMUNICATION_LEADERSHIP_PILOT.pdf If you wish to participate in the pilot and earn one of the micro-credentials free of charge, register ...
0 comments

Alliance Legislative Report 101-11

By Alison Maley posted 20 days ago
Be the first to like this.
ALLIANCE LEGISLATIVE REPORT (10 1 - 1 1 )    ALLIANCE INITIATIVES PASS IN BOTH CHAMBERS   With the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate now having passed the deadline in which the majority of committee work will take place, focus will now turn to the chamber floor. In fact, some bills are already moving forward in the General Assembly that impact schools. Two Alliance initiatives were  approved, SB 1712 and HB 2802 .    SB 1712 (Koehler, D-Peoria) exempts from disclosure a public body's credit card numbers, debit card numbers, bank account numbers, Federal Employer Identification ...
0 comments

April's Attribute: Self-Controlled

By PrinciPal Connection posted 22 days ago
1 person like s this.
Featured Attribute Self-Controlled – Regulates behavior to achieve goals, acts strategically, and stays calm during stress.   Associated Competency Self-Management – Monitors and takes responsibility for one’s own behavior and well-being, personally and professionally.   Associated Intelligence Personal – The capacity to reason about personality and to use personal information to enhance one’s thoughts, plans, and life experiences.   For Your Reflection Dr. Jason Leahy, Executive Director, Illinois Principals Association According to author Thomas Sterner, “Without self-control, you have no real power, regardless of whatever ...
1 comment

Alliance Legislative Report 101-10

By Alison Maley posted 28 days ago
Be the first to like this.
ALLIANCE LEGISLATIVE REPORT (101-10)  -  PE MANDATE BILL MOVES OUT OF SENATE COMMITTEE Earlier this week, SB 1189 (Holmes, D-Aurora) which restricts the flexibility of school districts to provide physical education, was narrowly approved by the Senate Education Committee. The bill includes disallowing P.E. waivers for more than two years and no more than two renewals. SB 1189 also requires 150 weekly minutes of P.E. for elementary students and 225 weekly minutes of P.E. for middle, junior and high school students. The legislation would make school districts focus on P.E. before any other course as no other course would have a statutory minute requirement. ...
0 comments

Alliance Legislative Report 101-09

By Alison Maley posted 03-15-2019
Be the first to like this.
Today caps off another busy week of session.  The Senate Committee deadline to have Senate bills considered by a committee is next Friday, March 22.  The House still has two more weeks of session before its deadline on Friday, March 29.  Deadlines have not meant as much in the last several years as extensions are granted on most any bill a sponsor requests an extension for, but it should lessen the number of bills that must be tracked by the Alliance. BILL ACTION FROM THIS WEEK SB 244 (Martinez, D-Chicago) provides that Grow Your Own Illinois shall administer the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Initiative as a grant competition to fund consortia that ...
0 comments

Alliance Legislative Report 101-08

By Alison Maley posted 03-08-2019
Be the first to like this.
ALLIANCE LEGISLATIVE REPORT (101-08) GOVERNOR PRITZKER UNVEILS PLANS FOR GRADUATED INCOME TAX On the campaign trail and in his Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Address to the Illinois General Assembly, Governor JB Pritzker has made his case for Illinois to adopt a graduated income tax. Until Thursday, this was just a general concept without any specific rates identified. This week, the governor revealed a plan that would slightly lower the income tax rate for households making under $100,000 and keeps in place the current 4.95% income tax rate for households making between $100,000 and $250,000. The increased rate starts at incomes greater than $250,000 and tops ...
0 comments

Alliance Legislative Report 101-07: Alliance Leadership Summit

By Alison Maley posted 03-04-2019
Be the first to like this.
ALLIANCE LEGISLATIVE REPORT (101-07)   ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL ALLIANCE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT The Alliance would like to thank all who attended the Alliance Leadership Summit this week in Springfield. Principals, Superintendents, School Business Officials and School Board Members from across the State were able to learn more about and advocate for the issues important to school management. The impact that school leader advocacy had on the Capitol was significant and it will continue to help shape the discussion on issues vital to schools going forward. Two major issues impacted by the advocacy efforts of school leadership were the minimum teacher salary bill (HB ...
0 comments

Alliance Legislative Report (101-06)

By Alison Maley posted 02-22-2019
Be the first to like this.
On Wednesday, Governor JB Pritzker delivered his first Budget Address to the Illinois General Assembly. Predictably, Democrats in the House and Senate applauded the speech as a step in the right direction, while Republicans were concerned about the plans for additional State revenues generated through new taxes and fees. To read more about the details of the Governor’s budget address, click here . Next week in Springfield, a group of Principals, School Business Officials, Superintendents, and School Board Members from across Illinois will gather to advocate on behalf of their districts at the Alliance Legislative Summit. The two day event will offer opportunities ...
0 comments

Alliance Legislative Report (101-05) - Governor Delivers First Budget Address

By Alison Maley posted 02-21-2019
Be the first to like this.
ALLIANCE LEGISLATIVE REPORT (101-05) - GOVERNOR DELIVERS FIRST BUDGET ADDRESS Governor JB Pritzker delivered his first State Budget Address today before a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly. State senators and representatives joined together in the chamber of the House of Representatives to listen to the newly elected Governor lay out his budget priorities. The Governor’s staff has for weeks laid the ground work on just how dire State finances are. He followed that up today citing the State’s $3.2 billion budget deficit and the $15 billion backlog of unpaid bills, further claiming that he will “hold the line on spending”. He added that it will ...
0 comments

Reading/Math Progress Monitoring Tools - Suggestions (Currently using STAR)

By Adam Herrmann posted 02-21-2019
Be the first to like this.
Our school currently uses STAR to progress monitor students quarterly. We are looking at different options for the next year. Does anyone have any tools they are using they really like?
0 comments

March's Attribute: Knowledgeable

By PrinciPal Connection posted 02-21-2019
Be the first to like this.
Featured Attribute Knowledgeable – Develops teachers’ and staff members’ professional knowledge, skills, and practice through differentiated opportunities for learning and growth, guided by understanding of professional and adult learning and development.   Associated Competency Teaching and Learning – Develops and supports intellectually rigorous and coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.   Associated Intelligence Systems – Individual understanding of the inter-workings and leadership of complex systems within an organization   For Your Reflection ...
0 comments

Alliance Legislative Report (101-04) - Minimum Wage Increase Passes House

By Alison Maley posted 02-15-2019
Be the first to like this.
ALLIANCE LEGISLATIVE REPORT (101-04) - MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE PASSES HOUSE In an unusual flurry of activity for early February, the House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 1 (Lightford, D-Maywood) which increases the minimum wage across the State of Illinois to $15 dollars per hour by 2025. For more information on SB 1, click here . Governor JB Pritzker made it clear during his campaign that raising the minimum wage is a top priority. The Governor was on the House floor as members voted 69-47-1 to send the bill to his desk. SB 1 is expected to be signed into law before the Governor gives his budget speech next week. GOVERNOR TO DELIVER BUDGET ADDRESS ...
0 comments

Alliance Legislative Report (101-03) - Eventful Week in Legislative Session

By Alison Maley posted 02-08-2019
Be the first to like this.
ALLIANCE LEGISLATIVE REPORT (101-03) - EVENTFUL WEEK IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION Significant legislation was moved on the fast track this week in the State Capitol. The Illinois Senate approved legislation to increase the minimum wage and sent the bill over to the House of Representatives. A Senate committee approved a mandatory statewide increase in the minimum teacher salary and sent the bill to the full Senate for consideration. The bill pending in the Senate to reinstate the five clock-hour provision for school funding remained unchanged this week, though discussions were ongoing about possible revisions. The Alliance opposes each of these three initiatives. ...
0 comments

We Fixed the Formula … Now How Do We Fund it?

By PrinciPal Connection posted 02-05-2019
Be the first to like this.
The following blog originally appeared in IASBO Update magazine. You can view the original article here . Reaching the goal of fully funding the Evidence-Based Formula and creating educational success and equity for all students cannot happen without addressing the structural problems behind Illinois’ poor fiscal condition. Article written by: Ralph Martire Daniel Hertz EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESEARCH DIRECTOR CENTER FOR TAX & BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER FOR TAX & BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY A Historic Turn of Events When August 31, 2017 dawned, Illinois had one of the worst school funding formulas in the country. ...
0 comments

Alliance Legislative Report (101-02) - 101st GA Moves Forward with Committee Work

By Alison Maley posted 02-01-2019
Be the first to like this.
ALLIANCE LEGISLATIVE REPORT (101-02) - 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY MOVES FORWARD WITH COMMITTEE WORK Next week, the Illinois General Assembly is expected to take up many important education topics in committees. The Senate is expected to address bills increasing the minimum teacher salary, student records, and charter schools among many others. The House is planning hearings on transportation, education licensure, and student transfers. A more detailed bill listing can be found in this report. SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE APPROVES RESTRICTIONS ON THE DEFINITION OF A SCHOOL DAY On Tuesday, the Senate Education Committee approved Senate Bill 28 (Bertino-Tarrant, ...
0 comments

One of the Biggest Mistakes We can Make

By Charley Cass posted 02-01-2019
Be the first to like this.
I recently was given the chance to give my first full day workshop.  In front of a raucous crowd of four, I presented on students living in poverty and how to best reach and teach them.  I want to send a huge thank you to the attendees and ROE #13 for the opportunity.  When the day was done and I drove home, I began to reflect on my message and my presentation.  A talking point stuck out and it has been resonating with me since that day. That talking point was the idea of  deficit mindset  and how that can be damaging to teachers as they try to connect with their free lunch kids. Having a deficit mindset causes us to set a low bar for kids we feel sorry ...
0 comments

IPA Hires Two New Field Service Specialists to Serve Chicago

By PrinciPal Connection posted 02-01-2019
Be the first to like this.
The IPA is excited to announce the addition of two new Field Service Specialists who will serve Chicago and the IPA’s North, West, and South Cook Regions. Dr. Angela Buckels and Dana Butler, both recently retired from Chicago Public Schools, bring a wealth of expertise and experience to their positions. Dr. Buckels began her career in CPS in 1985, having served many roles within the district, including teacher, curriculum specialist, professional development provider, assistant principal, principal, Deputy for the Office of Professional Development, Deputy for the Office of P-12 Management and lastly, Director of the Parent Support Center. Mr. Butler spent his ...
0 comments

February's Attribute: Guiding

By PrinciPal Connection posted 01-24-2019
Be the first to like this.
Featured Attribute Guiding – Acts as a trusted adviser, drawing from personal experience and expertise to offer guidance and support.   Associated Competency Capacity Building – Employs leadership knowledge and skills necessary to enable the school to make better use of its intellectual and social capital, in order to adopt high-leverage strategies of teaching and learning.   Associated Intelligence Social Intelligence – A set of interpersonal competencies that inspire others to be effective.   For Your Reflection Charlie Cass, Principal, Central Junior High School, West Frankfort, Egyptian, Region Throughout history, ...
0 comments