public service announcement

From the US Secy Ed – Anti Bullying Resources

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Don’t run from a challenge. Instead run toward it because the only way to escape fear is to trample it beneath your feet.”
– Nadia Comaneci

In the Deerfield Public Schools District 109 we are sensitive to the needs of the whole child – social, emotional, wellness, etc. We strive to impact our students, staff, and community in as positive manner as possible. In addition to the consistent and rigorous curriculum, instruction, and assessment expectations, we also hold mental health needs at the highest levels of importance and focus. In this post I’m sharing a letter that the United States Interim Secretary of Education, Dr. John King, recently shared with educators across the country:

Information and Resources on Harassment and Bullying

Dear Partners:

“…[On November 18, 2016] the Education Department joined an event at the White House to both reflect on the Obama Administration’s ongoing efforts to advance diversity and inclusion as well as explore the ways in which we may continue to further those efforts together.  [This] event builds on a number of ongoing efforts.

Last winter, I joined with former Secretary Arne Duncan to release a joint letter which issued a call to action and provided a list of resources designed to help ensure that our schools and institutions are places where all students feel safe and welcome.  As we are releasing a new report … entitled “Advancing Diversity & Inclusion in Higher Education,” we also wanted to share with you again the information and resources contained in that joint letter.

In particular, I want to highlight those resources that are included in the Addendum to the letter for your use as we continue to work together to ensure that all schools and institutions are environments conducive to learning.

Thank you for your continued partnership in this work and for your continued leadership in supporting all of our students.

John B. King, Jr.
Secretary
U.S. Department of Education

 

From the President of the USA – Honoring the victims of attack in Paris

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“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.”
– Anatole France

Presidential Proclamation — Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Paris, France

HONORING THE VICTIMS OF THE ATTACK IN PARIS, FRANCE

– – – – – – –

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

The American people stand with the people of France. Friday’s terror attacks were not just an attack on Paris; they were an attack on all humanity and the universal values we share, including the bonds of liberté, égalité, and fraternité. These values will endure far beyond any terrorists or their hateful vision. The United States and our allies do not give in to fear, nor will we be divided, nor will anyone change our way of life. We will do whatever it takes, working with nations and peoples around the world, to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice, and to go after terrorists who threaten ourdownload people.

As a mark odownload (1)f respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on November 13, 2015, in Paris, France, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset,

November 19, 2015. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.

BARACK OBAMA

Public Information from the IL State Board of Education

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“Nothing matters more than the ownership of a vision.”
– Bill Hybels

This post is a press release from the Illinois State Board of  Education regarding the release today of all school district report cards in the state. From time to time I use the blog to share public information as another avenue to inform the public on the macro/grand scale of public education in Illinois.

 

IL

For Immediate Release
Oct. 30, 2015

2015 Report Card released with new features to better reflect school climate and student progress

Changes underway to report the first Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) scores

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) continues to enhance its Report Card with new metrics and features available this year that show a more complete picture of school climate and students’ progress toward college and career readiness.For more information on the 2015 Report Card and its new metrics and data, visit the ISBE Hot Topics page at www.isbe.net/hot-topics.htm.

“Illinois’ award-winning Report Card is a model for other states to provide in-depth, meaningful data about school learning environments in an easily accessible format,” said State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith, Ph.D. “It’s a valuable tool that helps parents and community members understand and evaluate a school’s landscape, climate, academic performance, strengths, and opportunities.”

The 2015 Report Card at www.illinoisreportcard.com currently includes information about postsecondary enrollment, freshmen on track, principal turnover, teacher retention, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, and district-level financial information.

imagesReport Card data involving student academic growth and achievement on the state assessment is not yet available as Illinois awaits district-, school-, and student-level results for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test. The Report Card will be updated with district- and school-level data later this school year.

The 2015 Report Card is also available to the media at ftp://ftp.isbe.net/schoolreportcard.

In addition to enhanced returning features, this year’s Report Card includes the following new metrics and features:

  • Percentage of Eighth Graders Passing Algebra I: This metric reports the percentage of students who have passed Algebra I by eighth grade. Courses taken during any summer session are NOT included in this calculation. A student enrolled at any Illinois public school on or before Sept. 30, 2014, and on or after May 1, 2015, is assigned to the last district enrolled for the school year. This metric, as required by Public Act 097-0671, provides a more detailed look at students’ math comprehension before they enter high school.
  • Enhanced Educator Data: This feature reflects data gathered from ISBE’s Employment Information System (EIS). Several educator characteristics are now viewable on the Report Card in new displays, including teacher demographics, teacher retention, pupil-teacher ratio, teacher education, teacher salary, principal turnover, pupil-administrator ratio, administrator salary, and pupil-certified staff ratio. This is the first year the Report Card will offer completed educator data from the 2013 and 2014 school years. This metric was implemented in response to Section 10-17 a (2) (E) of the School Code (105 ILCS 5/10-17a).
  • Health and Wellness Metric (Coming Soon): This metric, which will be updated on the Report Card site later this year, will report the average number of days that each student attends physical education class per week. The metric is in response to theEnhance Physical Education Task Force, which recommends enhancing physical education to increase student wellness, and Section 10-17a (2) (B) of the School Code (105 ILCS 5/10-17a).

ISBE staff is also modifying how the Report Card will display results from the first administration of the new PARCC test. Students in grades 3-8 and some high school students took the PARCC test beginning in March 2015. In September, the state released preliminary statewide results for the PARCC test. Once roithe district- and school-level results are available, parents and community members will be able to see how many students performed at each of the five performance levels in English language arts and math by grade level in elementary school and by course level in high school.

The 2015 PARCC scores are taking additional time to produce as Illinois educators and their colleagues review students’ work to determine the performance level threshold scores. The new PARCC test replaced the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) and the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE). As such, the PARCC results will be represented on the Report Card separately from the previous ISAT and PSAE data. The 2015 PARCC scores provide a new baseline for measuring student progress moving forward. Therefore, the PARCC test results cannot be compared to ISAT and PSAE scores.

Additional information about how to access and interpret PARCC scores on the Report Card will be released later this year. More details about what to expect from the PARCC results are available on ISBE’s new PARCC Place website and posted on the Hot Topics page atwww.isbe.net/hot-topics.htm?col2=open#CollapsiblePanel2.

ISBE has produced the School Report Card since 1986 for every public school and district in Illinois. In October 2013, ISBE unveiled a new, redesigned Report Card that provides a more complete picture of student learning and school climate in a user-friendly format. In 2014, the Education Commission of the States (ECS) identified Illinois as having the best report card out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia for its accessible accountability reports.