Check out the ISBE How to Become Licensed webpage for a tool to help prospective educators determine what they need to become licensed. The tool will walk individuals through a variety of questions about their educational history to assist them on where to start on the process to becoming licensed.

You may also visit a tool that will help educators determine what they can teach with the current licenses they hold. The ISBE What Can I Teach with My License webpage will walk individuals through a series of questions to help determine what they can currently teach and also help determine what they need to reach their teaching goals!

ISBE adopts Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan, developed through extensive statewide engagement

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has adopted the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan, a roadmap to enhance and unify core literacy instruction efforts statewide. The plan, required by Public Act 103-0402, is the result of extensive engagement with educators and stakeholders across the state and a wide range of community members interested in and affected by the final plan. (Continue reading)

To view the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan, visit: IL-Comp-Literacy-Plan-2024.pdf (isbe.net)

Hands-On CTE Carpentry Class Offered in Benton

Teacher Timothy Hall, with a rich background in construction, brings practical education to Carpentry I, part of ROE 21’s Franklin County Regional Delivery System. This regional class, open to juniors and seniors in Franklin County High Schools, focuses on introducing students to the construction industry.

This year's class, with twelve students from various schools, engages in hands-on projects. They've crafted a workbench, repurposed lumber for cornhole boards, and are currently working on a cabinet and storefront signage for a local hair salon.

Carpentry I covers power and hand tools, workplace safety, and basic construction skills. Students also attend career fairs and trade shows. Plans are in place to expand the program next year, offering Carpentry I and II classes at the Route 37 training facility in Benton. Stay tuned for updates and project photos from Mr. Hall's class!

EDGE – Entrepreneurial Development, Growth and Education Regional Class

Benton Mayor Lee Messersmith leads an innovative class, a partnership involving ROE #21, Rend Lake College, and the EDGE Board of Directors. Open to all Franklin County High School seniors, students earn high school and college credits.

In the EDGE class, students step out of their comfort zones, interviewing local business owners and engaging with professionals. The class, held in Benton, consists of nine students from Benton, Sesser-Valier, and Zeigler-Royalton.

Covering entrepreneurship and more, students develop business plans, seek funding, and host a Trade Show featuring their built businesses. To fundraise, this year's class organized a real Whippoorwill Company Rodeo at the Benton Airport, showcasing various rodeo events, vendors, a petting zoo, and food trucks.

Mayors of Sesser and Benton participated in a bull-riding challenge, adding excitement and boosting attendance. The event raised over $20,000, with a net profit of $15,000. Beyond this Spring's Trade Show expenses, the students negotiated with the EDGE Board to donate a portion of profits to a chosen charity, showcasing their growth, dedication, hard work, and pride.

15^th District VFW Voice Of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Banquet

The Veterans of Foreign Wars sponsored an annual Essay Contest for high school and junior high students, progressing from regional to state levels. Southern Illinois regional winners were announced in January at a banquet in Anna, Illinois.

This year's "Voice of Democracy" topic for high school students and "Patriot's Pen" topic for junior high students received over fifty submissions, with judges praising the essays' high quality. Illinois State Department Commander Britt Nila and 15th District Senior Vice Commander Clarence Caraker awarded the top three in each category.

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL – PATRIOT’S PEN

First Place – McKenna Love, Adams School, Creal Springs

Second Place – Major Burlison, Benton Grade School

Third Place – Kale A. Sizemore, Saint Andrews School, Murphysboro

HIGH SCHOOL – VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

First Place – John Voss, Murphysboro High School

Second Place – Samuel Allen, Anna-Jonesboro High School

Third Place – Parker Johnson, Benton High School

Congratulations to all participants! McKenna Love's junior high essay and John Voss' high school essay are under evaluation in Springfield for State awards, including scholarship funds.

Who is Eligible by Law?

All children and youth who don't have a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, such as those living:

In an emergency or transitional shelter, with friends or relatives due to loss of housing or economic hardship (also known as doubled up)
In a motel, hotel, campground, car, bus or train station or other public place, an abandoned building
In inadequate accommodations, such as no utilities or running water, no working kitchen, infestations/mold/vermin, number of bodies vs. beds
As an Unaccompanied Youth, including youth who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian

Students eligible under the McKinney-Vento Act (MKV) are entitled to equal access to free, appropriate public education, including preschool, akin to their peers. The Act ensures academic rights for homeless students, focusing on identification, enrollment, attendance, and academic success. We'll delve into enrollment specifics, addressing barriers to enrollment, ensuring immediate enrollment, school selection, and full participation.

A key responsibility of district MKV liaisons is to eliminate barriers that impede MKV students' learning opportunities. Enrollment barriers may include conflicting laws and policies, unresolved fees or fines, or issues with transferring credits when switching schools. Tackling these challenges requires a collective effort, hence the formation of a district MKV TEAM. In addition to the liaison, this team typically includes administrators, enrollment staff, secretaries, counselors, social workers, and nurses.

"Immediate enrollment" for MKV students means registering them even without standard documents like immunization records, proof of residency, or guardianship papers. MKV liaisons, aided by the MKV TEAM, help families obtain these documents.

Changing schools often results in a 4–6-month setback in academic progress. The McKinney-Vento Act's school selection provision aims to minimize this disruption. MKV students can choose to remain in their School of Origin (SOO) if it's in their best interest. Liaisons work with the TEAM, parents, and youth to decide between the SOO and the local school, ensuring necessary support is provided.

Enrollment under the Act extends to attending classes and fully participating in school activities, including academic and extracurricular programs (42 U.S.C. 1143a(1)). Team members like athletic directors, coaches, faculty advisors, and teachers play a crucial role in engaging MKV students in these activities, which can motivate attendance and academic performance.

District MKV liaisons receive annual training from ROE #21 and are expected to provide similar training to school staff. ROE #21 can assist with a district’s MKV training upon request. Online training videos are available on the McKinney-Vento section of our website. Training the MKV TEAM is vital to ensure everyone understands the law and can effectively eliminate barriers, ultimately benefiting MKV students.

This overview covers the basic enrollment rights of McKinney-Vento eligible students. For more detailed information, visit roe21.org and the National Center for Homeless Education nche.ed.gov.

Learn More about the McKinney-Vento Program

Illinois Urban Fishing Program: Free Angler & Aquatic Education Programs for Illinois Students

Free Angler and Aquatic Education Programs for students: Teachers across the state are encouraged to contact their regional Urban Fishing Program Coordinator to learn more about how they can schedule free angler and aquatic education programs. Transportation funds available.

Southern Illinois: South of I-70, including Alton, Edwardsville, Mt. Vernon, Carbondale, East Cape Girardeau, and Cairo please contact Scott Isringhausen at [email protected]

Southern Illinois Project Learning Tree Educator Training

(COA: 42500)

Educators & Residents of Southern Illinois will experience Project Learning Tree's® new Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide which includes 50 hands-on, multidisciplinary activities to connect children to nature and increase young people's awareness and knowledge about their environment. Activities integrate teaching about the environment into a multitude of subjects using hands-on classroom studies and outdoor field investigations. The guide is user-friendly, and works in classrooms and nonformal settings, in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Educators can expect to find academic standards connections, STEM skills, assessment opportunities, along with enrichment activities, and how to Take it Outside!

PLT is for classroom teachers, nonformal educators, youth leaders, parents, and anyone working with youth ages 6 through 14.

February 9th @ Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center 6987 Headquarters Road Marion, IL

8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Start Time
3:30 p.m. End
Participant Registration - $10.00
Includes snacks, take-away resources, and printed copy of PLT Activity Guide.
*Participants should plan to bring a bag lunch*

Environmental Education Association of Illinois - Southern Illinois Project Learning Tree Educator Training (COA: 42500) (wildapricot.org)

February 9th - AA #2000

February 9th - AA #1865

February 10th

February 13th

February 14th

February 15th

February 16th - AA #3000

February 16th

February 22nd

February 26th

February 28th

January Delights: Peanut Butter Triumphs in Last Month's Poll and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Takes the Crown for Favorite Christmas Movie in December's poll! Let's see what will win this month...