The Illinois State Board of Education released "Current Remote Learning Options Under Illinois Law Guidance for Schools and Districts" on August 31st. The document includes a FAQ section which identifies School Code sections, summarizes the key requirements, and addresses questions, including the examples listed below.

Last week we announced that September was National Preparedness Month. From the numerous wildfires, to hurricanes, to flash flooding, to active shooters, one need only turn on the news or use social media to see the recent severe weather events and school violence instances. It is important that K-12 schools and institutions or higher education are prepared to respond in the event of an emergency. The Illinois School and Campus Safety Resource Center includes a K-12 Preparedness resources page as well as a Higher Ed Preparedness resources page. Additionally, taking training such as tomorrow's Earthquake Preparedness class and the upcoming Higher Ed Developing Emergency Operations Plans class can be vital in helping ensure your school or campus are prepared in the event of an emergency.

Other preparedness resources:

September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day, National Suicide Prevention Week is September 6th-12th, and September is Suicide Prevention Month. The Illinois School and Campus Safety Resource Center features both K-12 and Higher Ed pages on suicide prevention, as well as resources on responding to (and coping with) a suicide. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's Promote National Suicide Prevention Month page has various resources available to help promote suicide prevention in your school, district, or university.

This is the last chance to register for the upcoming session of Developing Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) for Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) on September 16th from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm via Zoom. This class is applicable for audiences interested in creating, revising, or enhancing higher ed EOPs; IHE faculty, staff, administrators, or others who serve, or will serve, on the IHE emergency operations planning team; and other interested stakeholders, including first responders, emergency medical services personnel, campus and/or public health officials, campus and/or city police, and other campus and community partners. For more information and to register, click here.

The Illinois School Safety Conference is scheduled for October 5, 2021, from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm in Niles, IL. This conference is free for school personnel, police, fire, emergency preparedness personnel, social workers, and public safety officers (you must bring your school or agency ID to enter the event). The conference includes speakers from various organizations, free continental breakfast and lunch, and onsite vendors. Additionally, paperwork will be provided on site for school personnel seeking Professional Development hours. For more information, click here.

The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program is pleased to announce the class "Preparing for the Unimaginable: An In-Depth Look at Wellness, Trauma Recovery, and Resilience" will be held from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm on October 15, 2021, via Zoom. This class is for both K-12 schools and Institutions of Higher Education, as well as law enforcement and other school and campus safety stakeholders. For more information and to register, click here.

The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program is pleased to announce the class "Railroad Safety for First Responders, Educators, and School Bus Drivers" will be held via Zoom on October 27th from 9am-12pm. The Railroad Safety class covers the challenges that frontline responders and school staff are faced with when responding to an incident on or near railroad property. This 3-hour class will prepare all involved (bus drivers, school administrators, law enforcement, first responders, etc.) and will provide responding individuals the correct tools to safely navigate the unfamiliar environment of the railroad. For more information and to register, click here.