4
State superintendent wishes Happy 50th to IASA!
ISBE, Illinois PTA to hold Back-to-School webinar for parents September 9
Thanks to all of you who took time out of your
busy schedules to attend our 2014 Back-to-School
Webinar last month. We had nearly 800 participants
and many productive questions, which speak to your
tremendous commitment to your
students.
Many of you have assisted
me and my staff over the years to
improve the systems we currently
have to better measure and tell
the story of student and school
success. I appreciate your
assistance and your continued
efforts to prioritize your student’s
instruction. Given our financial
challenges in Illinois, your
leadership
makes
all
the
difference for our students.
Working together, we are
improving the lives of our
students and the well-being of our
state’s economy by better
preparing our students for
postsecondary education and
training and meaningful careers.
As we roll out and fine-tune new
learning
standards
and
assessments
and
a
new
accountability system, we are
able to better measure and tell
the story of student and school
success.
That’s why I applaud the
Illinois Association of School
Administrators for 50 years of
providing much-needed support, resources and
advocacy for school leaders in your efforts to improve
and strengthen our public education system one
district at a time. The role of administrator can be a
thankless job at times, and the State Board of
Education could not pursue its goals without the
strong dedication of superintendents and school
leaders.
I also realize that despite administrators’ best
efforts, students can only accomplish so much
without engaged and supportive parents. We know
learning begins at birth, and a child’s academic,
physical, social and emotional growth and
development are a shared responsibility among
parents, teachers and school leaders alike.
Research clearly shows that children are more likely
to succeed when their families are involved in the
learning process, both at home and at school.
However, many schools need assistance to build and
strengthen effective relationships with parents. To
serve this need, ISBE has
developed
a
shared
framework
guide
for
engaging families.
I, along with members
of the Illinois PTA, will
discuss the state’s efforts to
promote
this
crucial
relationship
between
parents
and
school
communities during a Back-
to-School Webinar for
Parents at 7 p.m. on
Tuesday, Sept. 9. During
the presentation, I will also
update parents on the new
learning
standards
implementation as well as
the debut of the Partnership
for the Assessment of
Readiness for College and
Careers (PARCC) exams
and how they will inform
parents
about
their
children’s progress toward
college
and
career
readiness.
I
ask
that
you
encourage families in your
districts to register and
participate.
Registration
information is available at
I also encourage you to continue
your good work of finding new ways to connect and
communicate with families. Working together, we can
provide a solid foundation for a bright and prosperous
future for the state’s 2 million students.
My best to all of you for the new school year,
Chris
“...I applaud the Illinois
Association
of
School
Administrators for 50 years of
providing
much-needed
support,
resources
and
advocacy for school leaders in
your efforts to improve and
strengthen
our
public
education system one district
at a time. The role of
administrator can be a
thankless job at times, and the
State Board of Education could
not pursue its goals without the
strong
dedication
of
superintendents and school
leaders.”
-- Dr. Christopher A. Koch,
State Superintendent of Education
Message from
the State
Superintendent
of Education
