Between 2000 and 2010, the foreign born population in Illinois increased by over 200,000, and the number of young dual language learners (DLLs) also grew. By 2015, DLLs were thought to account for more than a quarter of the state's three- and four-year-olds. In addition, more K-12 children in Illinois were being designated as English learners and…

For decades, numerous observers have agreed on the value of collaboration between K-12 and higher education--especially as these sectors work toward increasing college readiness and success. While most states maintain separate agencies for K-12 and higher education, many states have worked to foster collaboration through state P-20 councils.…

The central message of this report is that teachers across America understand that social and emotional learning (SEL) is critical to student success in school, work, and life. Social and emotional learning involves the processes of developing competencies, including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and…

The central message of this report is that teachers across America understand that social and emotional learning (SEL) is critical to student success in school, work, and life. Social and emotional learning involves the processes of developing competencies, including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and…

The report of the Illinois commission on Children focuses on the need for developing a comprehensive service plan for emotionally disturbed (ED) children (birth through 21). Emphasis was placed on a continuum of services from prevention to treatment. Findings and recommendations are listed on seven topics (sample suptopics in parentheses):…

Describes a process, wraparound planning, for extending educational services to students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) and their families. A merger of community and school-based wraparound is being implemented in pilot school districts in Illinois. Guidelines for implementing school-based wraparound for students with EBD are…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a four-year federally funded project in Illinois to provide technical assistance to agencies and organizations providing early intervention, educational, transitional, vocational, and related services to children with deaf-blindness. The project supported the activities of deaf-blind…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of the Illinois state project on services for children with deaf-blindness, a 3-year federally supported project to address the needs of children (ages birth to 21) who are deaf-blind. Project activities included inservice training and technical assistance, development of a comprehensive…

Panels comprised of representatives of school administrators, classroom teachers, school boards, and teacher education institutions identified educational issues and potential solutions to them. The panels deliberated on the areas of: (1) recruitment into teacher preparation; (2) assessment of teacher preparation programs; (3) recruitment and…

This report presents the recommendations of the Coordination of Social Services Action Group (CSSAG) to the governor of Illinois for the improvement of social services for children and parents within the state. Because of financial constraints, ways to develop a more efficient and effective social service delivery system must be found. To this…

The primary purpose of the Curriculum Revitalization Project was to provide assistance to Illinois vocational educators, administrators, regional administrators, and regional delivery system directors in strengthening vocational programs. Ten major accomplishments were achieved: (1) seven regional instructional materials coordinators (IMCs) were…

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the Policymaker Partnership (PMP) of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education have joined together to consider challenges and opportunities for coordinating special and compensatory education among states, districts, and schools. As part of this effort toward increasing…

This report presents a statistical look at the well-being of children in the state of Illinois, quantifying the problems confronting them and outlining steps that policymakers and service providers can take to improve the situation. The first part of the report summarizes the state's situation in the areas of education, health, special needs, and…