New additions to the toolkit include:

  • Transcription of IASA Podcast with Dr. Michael Jacoby
  • IDEA Template Letter to send to Congress
  • U.S. Census Letter Template
  • Learning Doesn't Stop social media graphics
Dear IASA member,

To help support superintendents during this unprecedented time, IASA has updated the Illinois Schools Step Up Toolkit with new resources and guidance. Just like the previous version, consider this toolkit a living document that we will continue to update as more resources and information become available and as the situation evolves.

If your district has created a resource that would be valuable to share with your peers, do not hesitate to email Jason Nevel at IASA .
IASA Podcast with Dr. Michael Jacoby: Transcription
We listened to requests from the field and produced a transcription of the IASA Podcast with Dr. Michael Jacoby, Executive Director and CEO of Illinois Association of School Business Officials.
Need help encouraging families to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census? IASA has created a template letter you can use to send home to families. Click Here to view.
IDEA Template Letter
Help make your voice heard to Congress about the need to provide practical, narrow flexibility in how to meet some of the requirements under IDEA.
Sprint to Marathon Thinking
The IASA COVID-19 Swat Team has prepared a list of items school leaders should consider to help with future planning in the areas of short-term cash flow, staffing and benefits, contracts, travel, student registration, FY 21 budget preparation and the Census.
Proactive Leadership
As the mandated closure of schools continues, there will likely be new challenges school leaders will have to confront. To help you navigate through this difficult time, the IASA COVID-19 Swat Team has assembled a checklist of questions to begin to think through, as well as resources to help guide leaders through this process.
Emergency Planning: Document and Podcast
As COVID-19 continues to spread and infect more residents across Illinois, schools will be asked to take on additional responsibilities to support their communities. The time has come for superintendents to think more about emergency planning. Read questions school leaders need to be asking now.
Franczek law firm released a presentation on March 31 about financial issues superintendents should consider. Click Here to view.
Illinois: Learning Doesn't Stop Twitter Graphics
Also in Spanish
After you click "Get Image," you will need to save the image. For a desktop computer, right click over the graphic and click "Save Image As" to save to your computer. Once the image is saved, you will be able to add it to your tweet.
Virtual Meeting Platforms: Student Privacy Guidance and User Guides
Remote learning has forced schools to utilize virtual platforms, like Zoom and Google Hangouts Meet. To help leaders better understand how platforms comply with existing privacy laws, we created a spreadsheet. In, addition we compiled user guides from the various platforms into one place to help you get acclimated to the new programs, as well as added slides from a March 30 U.S. Department of Education webinar on FERPA and virtual learning during COVID-19.
Are you in search of social emotional learning/mental health resources or SEL professional development for teachers? Click Here for a list of resources.
Should you notify families if someone tests positive?
Read guidance from the IASA COVID-19 Swat Team about things to consider when debating whether not to notify families if a student or parent tests positive for COVID-19. Link also includes template letters for notification.
Need help finding resources to try to offer continuity of learning to students? Click Here for a list of online tools you can share with families.
OR
Listen to an IASA Podcast to get tips about how school districts in Illinois are adapting to remote learning. Click Here to view IASA podcasts.
Essential staff letter
Here is a template letter to fill out and give to employees in your district confirming they work for the district and are essential staff and therefore are exempted from the stay-at-home order.
IASA COVID-19 Swat Team Reports
Just looking for a template to send a message to families, students or community members? Smore has made templates available for free to educators to help communicate.  Click Here
OR
If you are in need of overall guidance on how to handle communications related to COVID-19, the National School Public Relations Association has released a guide.  Click Here