As summer is winding down and we are embracing the hustle and bustle of a new school year. We are excited to see everyone returning to campuses across Illinois. The ICSPS team and I have been busy this summer planning engaging professional development! The Forum for Excellence registration is open, and we’re delighted to provide both virtual and in-person options for attendees. The TIPPS (Training on Instructional Practices for Postsecondary Success) pilot wrapped up and ICSPS will be launching two cohorts to support colleges as they engage with the curriculum.

ICSPS is your partner in supporting your students as you prepare for the fall semester. Visit our website for learning opportunities on topics such as special populations support, universal design for learning, service integration, trauma informed practices, TIPPS, and more.

We look forward to seeing you both in person and online throughout the year.

Throughout August, ADVANCE CTE is sharing tools and resources to help CTE leaders navigate the challenges to overcoming equity and access barriers. States have a responsibility to identify and dismantle historical barriers and construct systems that support each learner in accessing, feeling welcome in, fully participating in and successfully navigating their career journey.

Connecting Every Learner: A Framework for States

The P-20 Council has developed the Learning Renewal Resource Guide. The Guide details a set of opportunities to invest in learning renewal. It isn't meant to be read from cover to cover, but to be used as a reference to quickly find information that informs planning - especially as it relates to federal relief spending decisions.

Download the P-20 Council Learning Renewal Resource Guide here.

The White House recently released a fact sheet detailing how the Build Back Better Plan will help boost education and workforce opportunities by ensuring postsecondary education is accessible and affordable and building the capacity of existing workforce development systems.

Read the fact sheet here.

Students who are also parents face unique challenges when walking back into the classroom. Parenting students are also at greater risk of dropping out of programs compared with their non-parent peers, especially if they are between ages 18 - 29. Recent research gives some helpful insight into their experience and outcomes.

From the Institute for Women's Policy Research

Busy with Purpose - Lessons for Education and Policy Leaders from Returning Student Parents. Contreras-Mendez, S. and Reichlin Cruse, L. March 2021.

Head Start-College Partnership to Promote Student parent Family Success: A Roadmap to Guide Collaboration. June 2021.

From ASCEND - the Aspen Institute

Improving Mental Health of Student Parents: A Framework for Higher Education. June 2021.

Looking for ways for your programs to help women who are interested in nontraditional fields? Check out these resources for help with recruitment strategies.

UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT