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​This Illinois State Board of Education Standards and Instruction Department is supporting the development of a first draft of an Illinois Literacy Plan.

Currently, literacy experts from throughout Illinois are working on this project. The dedicated writing team is composed of education and literacy experts, who bring diverse perspectives that will ensure a comprehensive and effective plan. Members of this group were identified earlier in the spring via responses to a survey that ISBE staff shared with participants at the October 2022 Literacy Summit. Additionally, the survey link was shared with other individuals and stakeholder groups that had reached out to our Standards and Instruction team during that same period. Selection for the writing team was based on expressed interest in supporting the plan and availability with a focus on ensuring a breadth of perspectives and experiences from individuals who could speak to key issues and student populations.

The first opportunity for additional input will occur in June. We recognize that providing multiple opportunities for input – and your expertise -- will be crucial in developing a plan that provides guidance to support the assets each child brings into her or his classroom. In particular, we will engage in listening tours and convene focus groups, followed by public review and feedback on the plan in summer and fall of 2023.

The following is our timeline for the project:

  • April, May, June, 2023
    • Draft Plan
    • Presentation to ISBE Boar​d
  • June, July, 2023
    • Listening Tour & Focus Groups
    • Public Comment
  • Fall of 2023
    • Revised Plan to ISBE Board
    • 2nd Listening Tour & Public Comment
  • January 2024​
    • Begin the year with a finalized literacy plan for Illinois​

We encourage all stakeholders to actively participate in the review and feedback process once the draft plan is available. Your input will play a pivotal role in shaping the final version of the literacy plan, which will guide literacy instruction and support across the state.

We will reach out when the plan is complete and ready for public review and comment.

To sign up to receive literacy updates via list serv, please complete the Illinois Literacy Plan Updates sign-up form.

For more information regarding the Literacy Summit from October 2022, please see the Literacy Stakeholder Engagement Meeting, October 25, 2022: Summary of ThemesPDF Document.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to advancing literacy in our state.

The Illinois Literacy Plan team at ISBE can be reached by email at ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net.​​​​​​

 Draft Writing Team Members

Listed below are the draft writing team members and their associated organizational affiliation(s).

  • Lulia Sarmiento - Belvidere School District #100 
  • Rochelle Luttrell - Arthur CUSD305  
  • Kimetrice Tate - Teach Plus Illinois 
  • Joanna Marek - Spring Avenue Elementary School, LaGrange School District 105 and Association of IL School Library Educators (AISLE) 
  • Kellyn Sirach - Teach Plus Policy Fellow, Champaign Unit 4 Jefferson Middle School  
  • Dr. Chris Becker - Highland High School 
  • Anne Peiffer  - Rockford Public Schools #205 
  • Molly Allen - ROE 17 - DeWitt, Livingston, Logan, McLean 
  • Dr. Sarah Epplin - Tri-County Special Education Association 
  • Shannon Hammond - National Louis University 
  • Dr. David Paige - Northern Illinois University 
  • Dr. Lindsay Meeker - Western Illinois University/Bilingual Advisory Council/Latino Policy Forum 
  • Verity Sandell - Parent of children in Illinois schools and Hartlieb Horste & Sandell 
  • Diane Wendt Uher - IL Early Literacy Coalition, Parent Volunteer Structured Literacy Advocate
  • Tinaya York,PhD - Literacy for Life, LLC 
  • Jessica Handy - Stand for Children IL, IL Early Literacy Coalition 
  • Laura Beltchenko - IL Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children 
  • Cristina Sanchez-Lopez - Illinois Resource Center; National Committee for Effective Literacy; Paridad Education Consulting; Illinois Committee for Effective Literacy 
  • Robin Thoma - Specific Learning Disability Project - EIU 
  • Shira Raviv Schwartz - Everyone Reading Illinois

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