January 2005

• January 26, 2005--CORRECTION NEWS RELEASE
  Iroquois West Community Unit School District 10 makes Adequate Yearly Progress for 2002-2003
• January 26, 2005--East Peoria Community High School District #309 makes Adequate Yearly Progress for 2003-2004--State Board of Education announces results of district’s appeal
• January 26, 2005--Ridgeland School District #122 makes Adequate Yearly Progress for 2003-2004--State Board of Education announces results of district’s appeal
• January 26, 2005--Eight school districts to receive consolidation incentive grants after Gov. Blagojevich signs bill to fund incentives--Funds made available by agency cost cutting measures at Illinois State Board of Education

• February 24, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education announces Mathematics and Science Partnership grants
• February 18, 2005--State Board approves rule providing preschool access for undocumented immigrants--Streamlines rules and passes budget
• February 17, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Parent Teacher Association seeking input for School Report Card Redesign--Parents encouraged to complete online survey

• March 16, 2005 -- Illinois State Board of Education to hold public forum on special education services in Springfield District #186
• March 10, 2005 -- Illinois State Board of Education announces finalists For State Teacher of the Year
• March 3, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education and
  Northern Illinois University announce Illinois Honor Roll

• April 29, 2005--State Board of Education and Illinois PTA to unveil mock-up of parent-friendly Illinois School Profile
• April 21, 2005 -- Gov. Blagojevich’s pre-school expansion efforts receive national recognition
• April 20, 2005 -- State Board of Education to review 2005 School District Financial Profiles
• April 16, 2005 -- State Board of Education names Winnebago County educator as the 2005-2006 Teacher of the Year in Illinois
• April 8, 2005 -- State Board of Education to honor educators at 31st Annual Those Who Excel event

• May 27, 2005 --Illinois State Board of Education announces available financial support for candidates of National Board of Professional Teaching Standards
• May 27, 2005 -- Illinois State Board of Education announces public forums seeking input on Preliminary Strategic Plan
• May 27, 2005 -- Illinois State Board of Education announces Operations Committee meeting
• May 20, 2005--State Board of Education takes action to reduce hundreds of pages of administrative rules
  
• May 20, 2005--State Superintendent of Education to visit Beardstown High School to tour new facility--Visit set for May 24
  
• May 20, 2005--State Schools Superintendent to hold series of open forums to seek input on State Board of Education --Draft Strategic Plan
• May 18, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education Appeals Advisory Committee Meeting set
• May 13, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education announces upcoming meetings

• June 16, 2005 -- Illinois State Board of Education announces launch of Illinois School Purchasing Network
• June 10, 2005 -- State Board of Education to enhance oversight of NCLB tutoring

• July 25, 2005 -- New Illinois Education Excellence Task Force
  seeks dialogue with educators, employers and parents at first public meeting
• July 16, 2005 -- State Board of Education awards Early Childhood Block Grants to schools and community programs
• July 13, 2005 -- State Agencies Join Gov. Blagojevich Initiative to Get Fit

• August 25, 2005--Illinois Education Excellence Task Force continues dialogue with major employers, college administrators, parents and educators at Chicago hearing
• August 24, 2005--Gov. Blagojevich signs Higher Standards, Better Schools plan into law
• August 11, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education names Randy Dunn State Superintendent
• August 9, 2005--State Board of Education receives federal grant to support Transition To Teaching bilingual teacher recruitment initiative
• August 5, 2005--Gov. Blagojevich signs law expanding genocide education in Illinois
• August 4, 2005 --Gov. Blagojevich signs laws reducing administrative burden on Illinois schools
• August 1, 2005 -- State Board of Education moves quickly to release
  Adequate Yearly Progress status to schools

• September 28, 2005--Governor honors dedicated educator and health care advocate with PATH Award
  
• September 28, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education submits plan to make Illinois schools better to Gov. Blagojevich and General Assembly
• September 15, 2005--Illinois takes lead role nationally as first state to develop financial reporting model for tutoring providers
  
• September 13, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education releases preliminary 2005 statewide testing data
• September 13, 2005--Gov. Blagojevich announces high school dropout rate hits all time low
• September 13, 2005--Governor announces more than 400 students displaced by Hurricane Katrina enrolled in Illinois schools
• September 8, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education announces partial tuition refunds available to students previously enrolled in closed technology centers
• September 1, 2005--Gov. Blagojevich opens Illinois public schools to children displaced by Hurricane Katrina

• October 25, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education invites nominations for outstanding school board president
• October 21, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education Seeking Input on State Performance Plan for Special Education
• October 21, 2005--Bloomington High School teacher awarded $25,000 from Milken Family Foundation
• October 21, 2005--Teacher Delora Taylor Washington awarded $25,000 from Milken Family Foundation
• October 21, 2005--Teacher Paul Kelly awarded $25,000 by Milken Family Foundation
• October 13, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education announces meetings for October 19 and 20
• October 6, 2005--Governor Blagojevich unveils landmark proposal to provide comprehensive health coverage for every child in Illinois

• November 30, 2005--Illinois Arts Education Poster Contest
• November 29, 2005--Refugee videos receive Insight Awards
• November 29, 2005--ISBE and Newton Learning Reach Agreement on SES Services
• November 23, 2005--Illinois Students Helping Katrina Victims and Making a Difference
• November 21, 2005--Blue Ribbon Schools Nominated
• November 20, 2005--Barbara Somogyi named 2005 Thomas Lay Burroughs Award winner by Illinois State Board of Education
• November 16, 2005--National early childhood education organization recognizes Illinois for efforts to expand access to preschool
• November 9, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education 2005 School Report Card release features new parent-friendly Illinois School Profile
• November 8, 2005--ISBE, NIU announce launch of Illinois e-Plans
• November 8, 2005--Illinois Troops to Teachers program featured on Illinois State Board of Education website
  

• December 27, 2005--First Lady and Illinois Poet Laureate encourage young authors to participate in statewide writing contest
• December 9, 2005--Illinois State Board of Education unveils new proposed rules banning junk food from Illinois elementary and middle schools
• December 2, 2005--ISBE to offer technical assistance opportunities to schools