Welcome to our many new members of the Illinois Coalition of Non-Public Schools. If this is your first issue of the ICNS Electronic Report, you need to be aware that it is sent monthly to administrators of member schools in the Illinois Coalition of Non-Public Schools (ICNS). Its purpose 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.  Any comments, suggestions and additional submissions from our members are welcomed.

 

NCES - NEW REPORT ON SCHOOL CHOICE

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has released a new report, Trends in the Use of School Choice:  1993 to 2003.  The report uses data from the National Household Surveys Program (NHES) to present trends that focus on the use of and users of public school (assigned and chosen), private schools (church- and non church-related), and homeschoolers between 1993 and 2003. The percentage of students enrolled in their assigned public school decreased from 80 percent to 74 percent between 1993 and 2003, while this decrease was nearly offset by an increase in chosen public school enrollment from 11 to 15 percent during the same time period.  Enrollment in church-related private schools remained stable at 8 percent and enrollment in non church-related private schools increased from 1.6 to 2.4 percent.  Regarding homeschooling, estimates from 1993 to 2003 suggest that the number of students that are homeschooled has increased from approximately 850,000 to 1,096,000. The report also measured parental satisfaction and involvement in children’s schools reporting an association between choice and the satisfaction level parent had with their children’s school.  Parents of children in a chosen public school or private school were more satisfied with the school than parents of students enrolled in assigned public schools.

 

THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT - Benefits to Private School Students and Teachers

The Office of Non-Public Education (ONPE) has recently revised the publication, The No Child Left behind Act of 2001:  Benefits to Private School Students and Teachers.  This publication is designed to assist all stakeholders with the implementation of NCLB programs providing for the equitable participation of private school students and teachers.  The publication includes:  a summary of the obligations of local school districts in providing equitable services; a description of the twelve major programs providing equitable participation; and details about other federal education opportunities for the private school community. The publication may be ordered online for FREE (up to 50 copies) at ED Pubs and by typing in the title or the ID Number:  ED002258B.

 

FAST FACT ABOUT PRIVATE SCHOOLS

 

How safe are schools? One way to find out is to ask students. The federal government’s Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 did just that by having high school sophomores react to the statement “I don’t feel safe at this school.” In public schools, 12.6 percent of students agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, while in private schools the same was true for less than 3.8 percent of students. The finding is part of a report released recently by the National Center for Education Statistics that analyzes the academic performance, extracurricular activities, life values, aspirations, and school settings of sophomores. The report, which summarizes data from three major NCES studies over a 22-year span from 1980 to 2002, is available at http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006327.

 

WHAT YOU CAN FIND ON THE ICNS WEB SITE

 

There is information available on the ICNS web site that can also be of assistance to you as a nonpublic school administrator. When you go to www.ICNS.net, you will find the archived copied of the monthly newsletter. Also, you will be able to find resources that will help you comply with requirements related to:

Highly Qualified Teachers

School Safety Plan

Teacher Certification

 

AVAILABLE GRANTS

 

"Scholarships to Reward Student Community Involvement"

The 2007 Best Buy Scholarship Program will award scholarships to students based on their outstanding commitment to and involvement in community service, along with a solid academic performance.  Maximum Award: $10,000. Eligibility: high school seniors currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. school, graduating with plans to enter a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two or four-year college, university or vocation technical school in the U.S. no later than fall 2007.  Deadline: February 15, 2007.  http://communications.bestbuy.com/communityrelations/scholarships.asp

 

"Grants to Support Running and Fitness Programs for Kids"

The Saucony Run For Good Program encourages active and healthy lifestyles in children and offers grants to communities and non-profit organizations that initiate and support running and fitness programs for kids. Maximum Award: varies. Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations with programs that increase participation in running in order to positively impact the lives of participants. Deadline: February 15, 2007.  http://www.sauconyrunforgood.com/application.pdf

 

"Recognizing Excellence in Humanities Programs in Elementary and Middle School Libraries"

The American Library Association Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award recognizes excellence in humanities programming in elementary and middle school libraries that serve children K-8. Maximum Award: $4,000. Eligibility: elementary or middle school (public or private) libraries; or any school library program in the United States that serves children in any combination of grades K-8. Deadline: February 28, 2007.  http://www.ala.org/ala/ppo/jaffarianaward.htm

 

"Adobe's Software Donation Program"

Adobe invites K-12 schools to request a maximum of four software packages per year. For more information visit http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/philanthropy/software.html.

 

For a detailed listing of EXISTING GRANT OPPORTUNITIES (updated each week), visit:

http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_grants.asp

 

EDUCATION IN THE NEWS

 

ARE MORE FAMILIES CHOOSING HOME SCHOOLING OVER PRIVATE SCHOOLS?  - Over the last decade and a half, the number of home schooled students has grown dramatically. An estimated 1.1 million students are now home schooled each year. Previous research suggests the family values and local school quality influence student enrollment decisions. However, it is less clear why some families may choose home schooling over other private schooling options. A new paper by Eric J. Isenberg for the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education uses data from the National Household Education Survey and secondary data sources to examine preferences for home schooling. The author finds that families are more likely to engage in home schooling if the mother has abundant time but scarce income, and if the state public school finance system is centralized, making switching schools less efficient and private schooling more costly. Preferences for home schooling are especially strong among well-educated parents with younger children. Home schooling of older children is more sensitive to child-specific behavioral needs.  http://www.ncspe.org/list-papers.php

2-4-5 STAYS ALIVE -- FOR NOW:  In one of the final actions of the 109th Congress, lawmakers approved a Continuing Resolution (CR) that, among other things, temporarily funds federal education programs at last year’s levels.  One effect of the CR is that programs such as Title II-D (Education Technology), Title IV-A (Safe & Drug-Free Schools), and Title V-A (Innovative Programs) have been spared some proposed funding cuts--at least for the time being. The stopgap spending measure expires in mid-February, giving the next Congress some leeway to complete action on unfinished FY 2007 appropriations bills.  Because many federal education programs, including Titles II, IV, and V, are forward funded, whatever funds are ultimately appropriated for FY 2007 will not affect schools until the 2007-08 school year.

 

TEACHER TAX BREAK EXTENDED:  In other legislative action, Congress also approved a measure extending certain tax-relief provisions. Among the extended provisions is the above-the-line deduction of up to $250 for certain expenses incurred by teachers in public or private elementary and secondary schools. Information from the IRS about the educator expenses deduction is available

here.

 

MEET YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS

 

Illinois Advocates for Educational Choice has scheduled meetings to speak with state legislators about the school choice issue and any other legislation affecting non-public schools.  You may want to attend if they are in your district.

 

Senate District 39 extends from the Austin Oak Park neighborhood in the east to Bensenville on the west, and O’Hare on the north, to Melrose Park on the south.   Legislators attending are: State Senator Don Harmon and Representative Deborah Graham and probably representatives of U.S. Congressmen Danny Davis and Rahm Emanuel.  State Representative Angelo “Skip” Saviano has been invited.  The meeting is at Walther Lutheran High School on Saturday, January 27 from 9:00 to 11:00.

 

District 21 extends from North Riverside on the east, and to Downers Grove, Glenn Ellyn and a part of Wheaton on the West.  Legislators attending are: Senator Dan Cronin, Representatives Bob Biggins and Sandra Pihos.   The meeting is at Timothy Christian High School in Elmhurst on Saturday, February 10 from 9:00 to 11:00.

 

Don't Know Who Your Legislators Are?   Click here to identify your senator and representative on the State Board of Elections Web Site. 

QUOTE 

 

"Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom." -George Washington Carver (botanist/author/educator)

 

CONTACT US

 

If you have any questions, comments or need information related to our efforts in supporting nonpublic schools, feel free to communicate with us by sending an e-mail to ICNS