Being a member of the Illinois Coalition of Nonpublic Schools entitles you to receive this issue of the Electronic Report.  The purpose of this Report is to provide brief synopses of developments with the Illinois Coalition of Non-Public Schools, legislative updates, and information of interest to our nonpublic school administrators.  Additional information may be obtained by following the hyperlinks that are imbedded throughout the Report. There are schools that have not yet renewed their membership for this year. The cost is only $50 for the year and these dues support the work of ICNS as the voice for non-public education in Illinois. Over the next few weeks, ICNS will be contacting member schools that have not joined this year. If you forgot to renew, here is the link to the ICNS web page for a membership form. http://www.icns.net/membership.htm

 

TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SOURCEBOOK

 

There is a new biannual resource guide on professional development available online. Designed for teacher leaders and others looking to guide staff development and instruction, the inaugural issue of the Teacher Professional Development Sourcebook focuses on the role of collaborative work among teachers in improving classroom practice and student achievement. It features discussions with leading classroom practitioners, an overview of research on what works in teacher learning, data snapshots of current practices and state requirements, and an exclusive resource directory of more than 200 K-12 professional development products and services.

 

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT OF NONPUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS

 

Here is a letter the ICNS board received from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) that I thought you might like to read.

 

We at the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) want to express our appreciation for your assistance.  Your letter of endorsement was a strong factor in the decision of schools affiliated with Illinois Coalition of Non-Public Schools to agree to participate in the 2008 administration of NAEP.

Since private schools account for 24% of all schools in the nation and educate almost 11% of all American school children, it is important that they be included in all data that describe the condition of American education.  Because of endorsement letters such as yours, NAEP private school participation rates rose dramatically from 2005 to 2007, and we expect the participation rates to rise even higher in 2008. In 2005, the grade 4 private school participation rate was 66.8 percent; in 2007, the rate was 87.2 percent. In 2005, the grade 8 private school participation rate was 67.7 percent; in 2007, the rate was 82.1 percent. As in the past, in 2007 private school students scored higher than public school students in reading and mathematics.  The percentages of private and public school students in each performance level of NAEP 2007 are included below.

 

Grade 4 Reading	Below Basic	At or Above Basic	At Advanced	At or Above Proficient
Public	34	66	32	7
Private	19	81	46	13
Grade 4 Mathematics
Public	19	81	39	5
Private	10	90	48	6
Grade 8 Reading
Public	27	73	29	2
Private	11	89	51	7
Grade 8 Mathematics
Public	30	70	31	7
Private	17	83	45	12

 

For complete information on NAEP results for private schools please access:   http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/.

 

EDUCATION IN THE NEWS

  

INNOVATIONS IN EDUCATION' BOOK SERIES PROVIDES LOADS OF FREE CONTENT
The "Innovations in Education" book series, published under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Education, provides free books that include valuable information on key education topics like online learning, engaging parental involvement in education, creating strong supplemental service providers and others. The books are intended to be resources for educators, parents, policymakers and community leaders. So go forth and send them around the country, learn from them, link to them, email them, quote them and of course order them free of charge.

http://www.ed.gov/about/pubs/intro/innovations.html

ECOLOGY/ENVIRONMENTAL TEACHING AWARD
The National Association of Biology Teachers Vernier Software and Technology Ecology/Environmental Teaching Award honors a teacher who has successfully developed and demonstrated an innovative approach in the teaching of ecology/environmental science and has carried his/her commitment to the environment into the community. Maximum Award: $1,500 value. Eligibility: secondary school teachers. Deadline: March 15, 2008.
http://www.nabt.org/sites/S1/index.php?p=290

 

MANDATE REGARDING GREEN CLEANING SUPPLIES

 

Our schools should be receiving a letter from the Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council (IGGCC) with information related to  the Green Cleaning supplies mandate.  By May 9, 2008 or until the sticks of cleaning supplies you have on hand as of May 9, 2008 are exhausted, all schools in Illinois are required to switch to "green cleaning supplies" in the following categories:

 

-- Bathroom cleaners

-- Carpet cleaners

-- General Purpose and Hard Floor Surface Cleaners

-- Glass Cleaners

-- Hand Cleaners and Hand Soaps

-- Paper Products

 

If green cleaning supplies in any of these categories are more expensive than what you currently pay, your school will be exempt from the mandate in that category.  There are more details (including product lists) and a lot of recommendations from the IGGCC. The mandate concerns supplies.  Green cleaning supplies are good and our transition to them. However, there are no repercussions or inspectors.  Do your best to move to green cleaning supplies in a timely fashion without endangering your budgets or other priorities.    And, since this is now in statute as a mandate, you will be able to use the money you receive from the School Safety Block Grant to buy green cleaning supplies if you wish.

 

SCHOOL SAFETY BLOCK GRANT

 

The recently approved School Safety Block Grant for recognized non-public schools has established specific procedures for school administrators to follow for accessing the funds.  The IWAS system  is up and running for state recognized nonpublic schools.  On IWAS, the attendance system will include a Users Guide (with Frequently Asked Questions section) that should be very helpful to you.  You will have until March 17, 2008 to submit your attendance data through this system. 

 

Here are a few key points to keep in mind:

·         Remember the March 17, 2008 deadline for submitting attendance data for the 2006-07 school year (last year)!

·         The system allows for someone other than the school administrator to input the data, but the school administrator must approve the document before it is submitted to ISBE.

·         The bulk of the system does not ask you to input enrollment data  -- instead, it asks you for attendance data by month.

·         There are specific rules for calculating attendance; please closely review the Users Guide to learn how.  By the way, we have talked with ISBE about how since nonpublic schools have never been asked to do this before, some of our attendance data for last year may not be exact.  ISBE understands; do your best now and in future years make sure you keep appropriate attendance records.

·         The information you enter into the system will be auditable.  ISBE will compare your figures with the enrollment and other data you submit in the annual Nonpublic School Registration Form, as well as perhaps state recognition visits, so please make sure you are accurate.

·         In the Attendance System and Users Guide there is contact information for ISBE staff if you need help. 

 

Attached is a Word document containing suggested expenses for your school safety grant money.  The first page is a quick list; the following pages attach those ideas to health and safety mandates -- a rationale if you will.  You can use this to help decide how to spend your school safety grant money.  Please be sure to keep account of how this money is received and spent.