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Attendance is important all year round, but especially so in the first month of school because that can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Missing just two days per month negatively affects a student’s academic performance.

• For younger students, poor attendance can influence whether they can read proficiently by the end of third grade or need to be held back.
• By sixth grade, chronic absence is a leading indicator that a student will eventually drop out of high school.
• Research also shows that attendance in ninth grade is a strong indicator of whether a student will finish high school. Also, attendance is a better indicator of whether a student will graduate from high school than test scores or other student traits.

Overall, when students improve their attendance rates, they improve their chances for academic success and improve the likelihood that they graduate.

• Attendance Works
• Every Student, Every Day: A Community Toolkit to Address and Eliminate Chronic Absenteeism

Learning to Read, Reading to Learn

For the children who are still learning to read, the beginning of the school year is a great time to develop habits that will benefit them over the long term. Family involvement in and out of school is crucial to improving students’ reading skills.

• Some ways to read with your kids
• Read together.
• Point out words everywhere you go.
• Give everything a name: Talk about the names of objects as you pass them to help build vocabulary.
• Reading Rockets

Pathways to Success

ISBE believes every student should be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully pursue higher education and to succeed in the 21st-century workforce. ISBE works with schools, districts, businesses, communities, and colleges to ensure students succeed in school and beyond.

Make sure you and your child are:

• Academically ready

  As your children get older, stay connected to their school. Work with their teachers to make sure your children are taking the right classes – and succeeding in them

• Admissions ready

  Encourage your child to get involved in extracurricular activities like after-school programs, sports, and school-based and community offerings that connect with their interests.

• Career ready

  Talk to your child about their interests. Discuss which type of schooling might be the right fit for the careers or areas of study that interest them.

• Financially ready

  Explore the financial planning tools offered through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission at www.ISAC.org. You and your child should talk to a school counselor and research scholarships online.

• Personally and socially ready

  Help your child build positive relationships with peers who make good choices and are developing good study habits.
• Be A Learning Hero - The Super 5: Back-to-School Power Moves
  Five important tips designed to help families guide their children’s academic success and emotional development and ensure their children are on the path to college and career readiness.

Immunization Requirements for School Year 2016-2017

Don’t wait, vaccinate! Immunizations are required to start school. Our partner, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), created an easy reference guide to help you understand what vaccines are required based on grade.

• Minimum Immunization Requirements for Those Entering a Child Care Facility or School in Illinois, Fall-2016
• ISBE School Health Page
• ISBE Immunization Data and Statistics

School Meals and Nutrition

• If your school participates in the School Nutrition Programs (National School Lunch, School Breakfast, After-School Snacks, Special Milk) check with your school for information on applying for meal benefits. 
• Has your child tried the school lunch and/or breakfast options at their school? The school meal programs provide tasty, healthy food items that meet the nutritional needs of the student based on their grade level.
• Does your school offer enrichment activities after the school day? If they do, take a look at the After School Snack Program and see if it could benefit your students.
  • MyPlate Guide to School Breakfast for Families
  • MyPlate Guide to School Lunch for Families

• ISBE Resources for Families of English Learners
  Tools to help families understand more about the process of developing a second language, and learning about the standards, assessments and supports that may be available to them.  The site includes a family handbook available in 14 languages, as well as presentations and webinars in English and Spanish.
• ISBE Resources for Families of Students with Disabilities
  Tools that walk through resources, rights, and procedures to help families access services that meet their children’s needs.
  • Back to School Tips for Families of Students with Disabilities
• Illinois Early Learning Project Resources for Families
  Short, research-based tip sheets and videos for families in multiple languages about supporting young children, with topics ranging from at-home reading, play-based learning activities, supporting dual-language learners, and healthy eating.

• Illinois State Superintendent’s statement on Illinois education budget
• ISBE FY 17 Budget
• FY 17 GSA Appropriations by District​
  

• FAQs
• Listening Tour Round 2 Dates - Sept. 2016 
• ISBE ESSA Page​
  

• SY 2016-17 State Assessment Dates
• FAQ
• Talking Points 
• Superintendent Tony Smith Letter to Districts
• ISBE Assessments Page
• Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)
  1. ISBE SAT Page
  2. Khan Academy SAT Personalized Practice Materials
  3. The College Board has a nationwide collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club to provide access to computers and internet for students who may not have access at home.
• Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
• ISBE PARCC Page
• For families:
  • Understand the Score
  • Real Learning for Real Life
  • National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Assessment Information Page for Families​
    
    

• Early Childhood
• Educator Licensure
• Illinois Learning Standards
• Nutrition and Wellness Programs
• Special Education
• Title I Schools​
  

• Minimum Immunization Requirements for Those Entering a Child Care Facility or School in Illinois, Fall-2016
• School Health  
• Registration Guidance for the 2016-2017 School Year
• Illinois Social Emotional Learning Standards
• Comprehensive System of Learning Supports
• Family Engagement Framework
• College and Career Readiness
• School Safety and Emergency Response
• Back to School Archive​