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dweinber@isbe.netDeanWeinbergWebsite
I like it!
12/6/2016 12:16 PM
  
rsisk@isbe.netRobSiskWebsite
The top navigation bar is amazing!   Perfect for the scope of people that visit the site.    Doesn't matter if one is  a teacher, admin or parent, they will know where to go from the start.   Kudos!   
12/7/2016 10:04 AM
  
gostro@advanceillinois.orgGingerOstroWebsite
Hi--I like how simple the new layout is.  I also like that you have duplicate navigation within each category of Administrators, Teachers, etc.  Since I am not one of the "named" groups any more, I was afraid I'd have to figure out who ESSA or Budget would pertain to and find it in that section.  Glad it doesn't work that way!
A couple of other specifics:  1) In the data reports section--it is not intuitive to me which are "archived" v. "active" reports--I would have to dig through both.  Maybe make that clearer or do you need two drop downs?
2) The budget documents have always been important to me.  I looked a couple of places before I found them in the Board section.  Maybe add that to the title with the picture?
3) I also often look for contact info for ISBE staff or departments, especially e-mails or phone.  I couldn't find that on the new site.  It would be good to have that available.
Sorry I only had a few minutes to take a quick glance, this is quick feedback.
Thanks for the opportunity to review! Great job!
ginger 
12/12/2016 10:51 AM
  
lwhitman@ltcillinois.orgLoriWhitmanWebsite
ISBE Website Feedback
WONDERFUL! What a great improvement! Overall, super impressive. Here are a few suggestions for improvements:

1. ADA compliance
You may need to get an ADA website compliance expert to review the site. I am providing just three examples of possible ada non-compliance issues (I'm not an expert), but there may be many more. Here is a technical assistance document from ada.gov that is a great checklist: https://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap5toolkit.htm

a. Alt text needed on images

b. Daunting task for this site, but pdf’s are supposed to be posted in an alternate format. This is from the ada.gov toolkit:
“State and local governments will often post documents on their websites using Portable Document Format (PDF). But PDF documents, or those in other image based formats, are often not accessible to blind people who use screen readers and people with low vision who use text enlargement programs or different color and font settings to read computer displays.
Solution: Post Documents in a Text-Based Format
Always provide documents in an alternative text-based format, such as HTML or RTF (Rich Text Format), in addition to PDF. Text-based formats are the most compatible with assistive technologies.”

c. Video guidance from ada.gov:
"Solution: Include Audio Descriptions and Captions
Videos need to incorporate features that make them accessible to everyone. Provide audio descriptions of images (including changes in setting, gestures, and other details) to make videos accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Provide text captions synchronized with the video images to make videos and audio tracks accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing."

2. Search Feature
a. I LOVE the filters!

b. I LOVE the pop-up view of the link!

c. I LOVE the posted date in the pop up window. It may be helpful to add current year to the date. I can see older results include the year, which leads me to assume anything without a year is current year. It might be nice just to list full dates – month, day, year – for all results.

d. Old stuff still comes up first. When I search on “Technology”, a lot of old stuff rises to the top. The link to the current Educational Technology page is on the second page of the search results, behind stuff from 2012. Is there a way to ensure the most current information comes up first? Same thing for “ADA” search where 2006 documents come up first, followed by 2010, followed by 2014. Same with a search on “Erate”. It seems to be an across-the-board issue and one that created a lot of frustration with the old search site.

3. Contact
a. Could the contact page include the ISBE address and phone number?

b. On the Contact page, the ISBE logo in the upper left hand corner takes me back to the old website.

4. ROE’s - The listing of ROEs and ROE Supts is buried under “Resources and Links”, while the ISCs have their own section with links to each one within that section. I would suggest either creating another nav bar on the page that says “Regional Offices of Education” and then move the link to the Directory under that, OR move the Directory link to the top of the page after the first paragraph.

5. Could Innovation and Ideas be added to the Teachers list of resources? It only shows up on the home page.

Thank you for what clearly took a lot of hard work!

Lori Whitman
LTC2
12/12/2016 11:07 AM
  
mfraas@sps186.orgMattFraasWebsite
This is so much easier to navigate.  The tabs on top are easier and more concise.  The more detailed sections under each tab are also clear.  The look of the page is also a huge improvement.
12/12/2016 11:14 AM
  
alison@ilprincipals.orgAlisonMaleyWebsite
Only had a few minutes to take a look, but I already like the aesthetics of the site. Perhaps this it just because it's a demo site, but will the Directory of Educational Entities be password protected when this launches? It has always been open before.
12/12/2016 11:21 AM
  
chamblin@ilvirtual.orgCindyHamblinWebsite
My initial thoughts when viewing the draft website were engaging, fresh, and inviting. The font used within the green background of the topics is ‘long’ and may be hard for some individuals to read.  Accessibility standards suggest that fonts used are more round for ease of reading.

Compliance with WCAG2 accessibility standards for websites require all non-text content have Alternative Text (Alt Text).  Alt Text were not provided when ‘hovering’ over an image.     In addition, captions should be provided for all prerecorded audio content.  I did not find the closed-caption available for the videos on the website.  There are a number free tools for evaluating websites based on WCAG2 accessibility standards. 

I like the ideas of different Portals for Administrators, Teachers, Parents/Students, and Community.  However, the information linked below the topics did not vary much between the groups. 

I took the role of a parent trying to find out about Illinois Virtual School (IVS).  Finding out about IVS was not intuitive.  In fact, I only found the reference to IVS because I know the funding is from Educational Technology.  IVS is only located within the topic of Innovation and Ideas.  This topic is not available from the Families and Student portal.  The topic is also not available from the Administrators, Teachers, or Community and Partners portals.  I tried the Search feature and did not get to the IVS website.  IVS appears to be only a resource and NOT a program of the Illinois State Board of Education. IVS (IVHS previously) has been in existence since January 2001 and is a program for district and schools.  Personally, I would like to see the state’s virtual program have more of a presence on ISBE’s website.

Continuing my role as a parent, I attempted to find out information about home schooling.  The search feature did result in Other Resources but was not available within the Families and Students topics.

I like the fresher look of the new website but feel the different portals need pertinent information for that audience.  Compliance with WCAG 2.0 needs to be built into the website. 
12/12/2016 11:27 AM
  
kkuhl@isbe.netKimKuhlLicensure
I was instructed to reach out to inquire about where to locate the following:

-Qualification Evaluation Forms (previous qualifications)

-Hints for Qualification Evaluations (previous qualifications)

I was able to locate the "Evaluating For Previous Teacher Qualifications" PowerPoint under "Archives" when searching.  All of this information is used by both our ROEs and Licensure to evaluate for previous qualifications.

Thank you!
12/21/2016 9:28 AM
  
jbott497@comcast.netjohnbottorffLicensure
Awful!  Please go back to the other format.  It now takes forever to navigate the new website.  15 min and still cannot find what I am looking for.
12/21/2016 9:57 AM
  
cvega22@cps.eduChristianVegaESSA
Include the arts in essa.
12/22/2016 8:31 AM
  
Clvidmar@cps.eduChristyVidmarESSA
Include the arts in essa.
12/22/2016 8:31 AM
  
cynthia.lopez0226@gmail.com CynthiaLopezESSA
Include the arts is ESSA.
12/22/2016 8:31 AM
  
Emmejia@cps.eduErikaMejiaESSA
Include the arts in essa
12/22/2016 8:31 AM
  
hernandezcristobal21@gmail.comCristobalHernandezESSA
Remove arts from essa
12/22/2016 8:31 AM
  
Jcervantez@cps.eduJoannaSanchezESSA
Include the arts in Essa
12/22/2016 8:31 AM
  
dlorenzo1503@gmail.comDawildaLorenzoESSA
Include the arts in essa.
12/22/2016 8:31 AM
  
Alyza.valencia10@gmail.comAlyzaValenciaESSA
Include the arts in essa
12/22/2016 8:31 AM
  
cairowallace@gmail.comCairoWallaceESSA
Include the arts in essa
12/22/2016 8:31 AM
  
Itorres6@cps.eduIreneTorresESSA
Include the arts in essa
12/22/2016 8:32 AM
  
Eyramirez@cps.eduEdidRamirezESSA
Please include the arts in ESSA
12/22/2016 8:32 AM
  
Mandozavala705@gmail.comArmando ZavalaESSA
Please include the arts in essa
12/22/2016 8:32 AM
  
Igarcia133@cps.eduIrisGarcia ESSA
Please Include the arts in essa.
12/22/2016 8:32 AM
  
Yguzman3@cps.eduYulianaGuzmanESSA
Please include the arts in essa
12/22/2016 8:32 AM
  
dflores59@cps.eduDulceFloresESSA
please include the arts in Essa
12/22/2016 8:32 AM
  
mjuarez23@cps.eduManuelJuarezESSA
Arts in essa
12/22/2016 8:32 AM
  
Jlopez187@yahoo.comJenniferLopezESSA
Include the arts
12/22/2016 8:33 AM
  
clbrake@cps.eduChrisBrakeLicensure
Where do administrators go on the new website to check teacher certifications and status?
12/22/2016 9:54 AM
  
Rebollogustavo@icloud.comGustavo RebolloESSA
Include the arts in essa! It's one of the best feelings going to school and knowing you are going to do something new ever day!
12/22/2016 1:04 PM
  
Jabarber3@cps.eduJessicaBarberESSA
Include the arts
12/22/2016 1:05 PM
  
Prchickyricky@yahoo.comMiaraJonesESSA
Include arts in essa
12/22/2016 1:05 PM
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