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Updates for North Central College Educational Partners

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Updates for North Central College Educational Partners

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LEARN ABOUT NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION!

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LEARN ABOUT NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION!

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Updates from North Central College for School Leaders

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Updates from North Central College for School Leaders

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North Central College Dec. Info Sessions 

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North Central College Dec. Info Sessions 

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North Central College November 2025 Info Sessions

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North Central College November 2025 Info Sessions

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Immigration Resources | Community Resources

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September 2025 issue of ISBE's Multilingual/Language Development Department newsletter

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September 2025 issue of ISBE's Multilingual/Language Development Department newsletter

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UPDATED! WIDA Releases FY 2025-26 Self-Paced PD

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North Central College - Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Education in Educational Leadership Info Sessions - September & October 2025

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North Central College - Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Education in Educational Leadership Info Sessions - September & October 2025

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Now accepting applications for the Principal Preparation program for Spring 2026!

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West40 ISC#2 - ACE Tuition Discount_Raffle.pdf

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The New Absenteeism - 5 Profiles of Youth Engagement

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The New Absenteeism - 5 Profiles of Youth Engagement

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Hello Attendance Friends! I am looking forward to our Network Meeting this Wednesday. If you are able, I'd love for you to read this article and for us to discuss how it may apply to the attendance challenges you see in your school. As always, any top of mind topics are welcome!

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The New Absenteeism: What Measuring Attendance Misses

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The sharp rise in chronic student absenteeism in the wake of the pandemic has attracted national headlines, and rightly so. But research I’ve done with my colleagues at Teach For America’s Reinvention…

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Summer 2025 Teaching Safari Information and Brookfield Zoo Classes

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Summer 2025 Teaching Safari Information and Brookfield Zoo Classes

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Fwd: Introduction and Educational Resources from the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

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Fwd: Introduction and Educational Resources from the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

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Learning Technology Center New year, new K-12 cybersecurity threats

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Learning Technology Center New year, new K-12 cybersecurity threats

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Compass Health - School Refusal Presentation

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Compass Health - School Refusal Presentation

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Hi Attendance Friends! Here are the slides from Compass Health's presentation on School Refusal at today's West40 Attendance Network. Many thanks to Ally Kent for sharing her knowledge with us and helping us educators understand the signs of school refusal and ways we can help!

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Your October LTC Newsletter 🎃 - kchavez@west40.org - West 40 ISC #2 Mail

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Brookfield Zoo Learning Opportunities: Ages 11-14

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Brookfield Zoo Learning Opportunities: Ages 11-14

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24/25 Attendance Network Running Agenda/Notes

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24/25 Attendance Network Running Agenda/Notes

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Illinois V5RC and VIQRC Coaches Update - September 11, 2024

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Illinois V5RC and VIQRC Coaches Update - September 11, 2024

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Illinois V5RC and VIQRC Coaches Update - September 11, 2024

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"Back to School" Free Resources - Brookfield Zoo Chicago

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"Back to School" Free Resources - Brookfield Zoo Chicago

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2024-09-04-Fwd_ Back to School Free Resources - Brookfield Zoo Chicago

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 Mental Health Awareness Month_ You Are Not Alone💚

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 Mental Health Awareness Month_ You Are Not Alone💚

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Do you need professional development this summer? Or, are you looking for something to satisfy your own personal enrichment? VESi offers online continuing education courses to fit your educational needs. Take courses when and where you want!

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Do you need professional development this summer? Or, are you looking for something to satisfy your own personal enrichment? VESi offers online continuing education courses to fit your educational needs. Take courses when and where you want!

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To Register: https://bit.ly/IllinoisOnlineAcademy

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Online courses that can be taken by education professionals for recertification or salary advancement purposes.
If you are having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online.

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Online courses that can be taken by education professionals for recertification or salary advancement purposes.If you are having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online.

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Copy of Attendance: Teacher Phone Call Guidance

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Copy of Attendance: Teacher Phone Call Guidance

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Copy of Attendance: Teacher Phone Call Guidance

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Example Flyer - Late to School. Flyer 1. Bloom Trail. English & Spanish (1)

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Example Flyer - Late to School. Flyer 1. Bloom Trail. English & Spanish (1)

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Chase Mielke - What's a stressful thing you're doing this week?

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Chase Mielke - What's a stressful thing you're doing this week?

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Free English as a Second Language Classes at the Center of Integration and Development! 

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Free English as a Second Language Classes at the Center of Integration and Development! 

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 The Loft is Now Open to 7th and 8th Grade Students!

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 The Loft is Now Open to 7th and 8th Grade Students!

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Scholarship to earn an LBS1 or LBS2 endorsement in assistive technology

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Scholarship to earn an LBS1 or LBS2 endorsement in assistive technology

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Great opportunity for currently licensed educators to earn an Illinois learning behavior specialist (LBS1) endorsement and an advanced learning behavior specialist (LBS2) endorsement (LBS2) in assistive technology for free!

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Be Proactive NOW - Avoid the Spring Attendance Slump!

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Be Proactive NOW - Avoid the Spring Attendance Slump!

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Spring Attendance Slump Resources from Attendance Works

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Spring Attendance Slump Resources from Attendance Works

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In the weeks before and after a school's spring break, drops in attendance are common. The shift to warmer temperatures, thoughts of days with no school, and increases in asthma, allergies or other health problems can make attendance plummet. Several other factors, including impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic or poor conditions for learning, impact attendance and often hit low-income communities harder than better resourced districts.

If you have seen that absences are high in the weeks or days before the spring break, plan something. Consider asking students what kind of activity or incentive will encourage them to think, "I'm not going to miss school that day!" Most activities can be done in person or adapted for remote learning.

No matter what you decide to do, reflect on how your school community is weathering the pandemic. Take into account the energy level of school staff. Many are exhausted and cannot do one more thing. This is a great moment for community partners to pitch in.

If families have experienced job loss, illness or death during the past year, organize an activity to address these needs. Consider organizing a friendly food bank donation competition, or provide free fruit in classrooms. These activities tell families that the school staff care, and will help build relationships that encourage attendance and participation.

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Spring Attendance Slump - Attendance Works

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In the weeks before and after a school's spring break, drops in attendance are common. The shift to warmer temperatures, thoughts of days with no school, and increases in asthma, allergies or other health problems can make attendance plummet.

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Attendance Playbook from Attendance Works

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Attendance Playbook from Attendance Works

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Are you ready to shift your mindset? Read this for awesome research-based ways to increase attendance in your buildings!

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Use this to Discuss the Importance of Attendance - Spanish

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Use this to Discuss the Importance of Attendance - Spanish

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Use this to Discuss the Importance of Attendance

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Use this to Discuss the Importance of Attendance

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Here is the Holiday Break letter in Spanish!

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Here is the Holiday Break letter in Spanish!

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Use this letter to discuss importance of attendance before Holiday Break!

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Use this letter to discuss importance of attendance before Holiday Break!

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Financial Assistance Available for Cook County Residents

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Financial Assistance Available for Cook County Residents

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D99 Tiered Attendance Intervention Program

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D99 Tiered Attendance Intervention Program

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Expanded Metrics for Monitoring Attendance and Engagement

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Expanded Metrics for Monitoring Attendance and Engagement

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Attendance Works promotes an expanded framework for monitoring attendance and engagement, especially given insights learned from the Covid-19 pandemic about how data can inform our work when unexpected disruptions in learning occur.
To support engagement and attendance, we advise districts and schools to monitor five key metrics, Prior Year Chronic Absence, Attendance (in-person and remote), Contact, Connectivity and Relationships. Together, these data paint a holistic picture of whether students are positioned to benefit from current learning opportunities. They also alert schools and communities that timely action is needed when students face challenges to showing up to class.

We understand that the last three metrics ( Contact, Connectivity and Relationships) are new for schools and districts. While systems to monitor these are a work in progress, we are sharing them to guide your work. The section below offers a deeper definition and rationale for our recommended metrics to monitor during the school year.

Prior Year Chronic Absence: Students who missed 10% of school in the prior school year should be prioritized for extra outreach and support for the current school year and the upcoming summer. A wealth of research shows that chronic absence in the prior year indicates students, starting in kindergarten, were more likely to fall behind in reading, experience lower achievement in middle school and less likely to graduate from high school. Keep in mind that large numbers of students chronically absent in a particular grade, student group or school can indicate a need for intensified investments in foundational and tier 1 supports, not just expanded early intervention. See Attendance Works free data tools for help on using your data.

Attendance (in-person and remote): Schools and districts should take attendance daily in a consistent manner, and differentiate in student information systems whether absences are occurring during in- person or remote learning. Establish a common definition of what constitutes a day of attendance during remote as well as in-person instruction. The current U.S. EDFacts definition is that a student counts as present for a full day of instruction if they attend school for at least .5 of the day. (Scroll on this website page and click on FS 195 chronic absenteeism to find guidance and the EDFacts definition).

Data on absences and attendance can be used to notice which students have satisfactory attendance (missing less than 5% of school), have at-risk attendance (miss 5-9% of school), moderate chronic absence (miss 10-19% of school), or are experiencing severe chronic absence (missing 20% or more of school). Knowing which and how many students fall into these attendance bands can inform school and district strategies for reducing chronic absence, and also help indicate the level of support that may be needed for individual students and families as well as groups of students.

Attendance during the first month: Schools and districts should, within the first two weeks of school, identify which students have not shown up yet for the current school year. Analysis of chronic absence data demonstrates that a low level of student participation in the first weeks of school predicts later absenteeism. Utilize this information to organize an outreach effort to understand why students and families are not participating.

Contact: Maintaining current contact information is essential for connecting with students and families, especially those who might need support. Consider asking for current email, cell and home phone numbers and emergency contacts multiple times, such as at back-to-school events, parent meetings and the start of each semester. Attendance Works has developed a list of ideas and strategies for locating students and families who have not been in touch with their schools.

Connectivity: Even when learning is in-person, students and their families need internet access, proper equipment and training on utilizing online learning platforms to complete school-based learning and assignments. This access allows for greater access to learning opportunities and also ensures they can obtain learning materials if they must stay home. School districts should determine which students do not have internet access and equipment and determine through partnership with local and state governments, along with community partners how to secure the resources to address gaps. Districts and schools should also assess whether school staff have access to needed technology and equipment and the skills to use them.

Relationships: Research and experience show that strong reciprocal relationships with caring adults and educators are key to keeping students and families involved in school and learning. Educators can make a huge difference by using both in-person and virtual relationship-building strategies with students and their families. See our suggestions for activities in our Back-to-School calendar of activities for elementary grades and for secondary grades ( find the calendars on this page), as well as the Spring Attendance Slump page.

When educators take attendance they can do so with intentionality and in a caring manner. For example, if a student is chronically absent, educators can make an extra effort to welcome them back. Educators can also recognize good and improved attendance and provide social-emotional check-ins at either the classroom or with individual students. Teachers can also encourage connections using group assignments and online chats to keep students engaged with each other. Virtual connections (phone calls, texts and emails) can be essential tools for sustaining and deepening relationships and communication if students are unable to show up to class.

School staff should also use in-person strategies (connecting at school events, parent teacher conferences, community events) and virtual strategies (phone calls home, two -way texting, virtual home visits) to maintain communications with families, not just students.

If instruction is virtual, staff should connect to students at least three times a week, if not daily, since the lack of response could be a sign that a student or family may be experiencing challenges that require support.

Schools and districts should monitor the extent to which students and their families have at least one adult they can go to for support. Provide families opportunities to offer feedback on the quality of their relationships to school staff and opportunities to inform decision-making. Harvard's Guide to Relationship Mapping can be used to ensure all students have a meaningful connection to an adult in the school community.

We know that showing up matters, and that when students show up to learn, they are more likely to be able to stay on-track, stay engaged and meet major educational milestones. It is more essential than ever to measure attendance and notice which students are facing difficulties in showing up for learning. Our responsibility to use data for early warning, and ensure we are helping schools, students and families solve the barriers to learning, is paramount to ensuring long-term recovery from the pandemic.

Updated August 2023

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Expanded Metrics for Monitoring Attendance and Engagement - Attendance Works

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Attendance Works promotes an expanded framework for monitoring attendance and engagement, especially given insights learned from the Covid-19 pandemic about how data can inform our work when unexpected disruptions in learning occur. To support engagement and attendance, we advise districts and schools to monitor five key metrics, Prior Year Chronic Absence, Attendance (in-person and remote), Contact, Connectivity and Relationships.

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Attendance Network Systems Change Questions

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Attendance Network Systems Change Questions

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Attendance Network Systems Change Questions

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Strategies for Connecting with Parents and Families

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Strategies for Connecting with Parents and Families

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School Refusal and Anxiety Programs List

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School Refusal and Anxiety Programs List

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23/24 Attendance Network Running Agenda/Notes 

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23/24 Attendance Network Running Agenda/Notes 

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5 Steps and Resources to Start the School Year

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5 Steps and Resources to Start the School Year

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Did you know there are several easy steps that superintendents, district or school communication staff can do to boost student attendance and engagement at the start of the school year?

We collaborated with the California School Public Relations Association (CalSPRA) on five effective communication actions that can raise awareness about why showing up to school every day matters. Being in school has many benefits, from getting to know peers and adults at school in ways that support relationships that make it easier to attend, to gaining access to learning opportunities, basic resources and fun enrichment activities. Daily attendance is important for a student's well-being, learning and long-term success.

Download a PDF with the five steps and resources!

Each of the five steps is followed by linked resources that can support attendance initiatives:

1. Welcome and connect. Attendance and participation improve when a school community offers a warm and welcoming environment that engages students and families.
a. Teachers can send a welcome call using the Flamboyan Welcome Call Strategy
b. Principals can send families a welcome letter

2. Convey the value of showing up to school. Families and students often aren't aware of the benefits of being in school and how chronic absenteeism can present challenges to realizing their hopes and dreams.
a. Posters and social media resources
b. Use talking points from the Attendance Works Showing Up Matters for R.E.A.L. toolkit
c. Share videos from Children's Aid, or create your own video that helps people understand the value of being in school

3. Encourage preparation for school. Developing routines or making back up plans for getting to school make daily attendance easier especially when challenges come up.
a. My Family's Help Bank
b. Ready Set Go for PreK or Kindergarten
c. Family handouts for PreK-12

4. Offer clear health guidance. Reducing unnecessary health-related absences is critical to improving attendance.
a. Health handouts for families

5. Host special events. Back-to-school nights, assemblies, teacher conferences and special exhibits all provide opportunities to educate families about the value of regular attendance. Use these opportunities to orient parents/caregivers to school policies and connect them to helpful resources. If you have data for your school or community, share the information with parents.
a. Talking points for school leaders and educators
b. Interactive parent/caregiver exercises
c. Bringing Attendance Home video
d. Parent Teacher conference handout

We co-hosted a workshop with communication officers in districts and schools throughout California. Attendance Works and CalSPRA President Jessica Hull shared proven strategies for crafting compelling attendance messages tailored to diverse educational partners. We also shared creative ways free resources can support attendance initiatives.

Watch a recording of the CalSPRA, Attendance Works workshop,The Power of Communication: Driving Attendance Campaigns and Engagement.
Consult the Attendance Works usage policy if you would like to add a logo to the linked resources.

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The Power of Communication: Driving Attendance Campaigns & Engagement - Attendance Works

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Did you know there are several easy steps that superintendents, district or school communication staff can do to boost student attendance and engagement at the start of the school year? We collaborated with the California School Public Relations Association (CalSPRA) on five effective communication actions that can raise awareness about why showing up to school ...

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Please note: The materials on this page were created prior to March 2020. Some of the recommendations or images may refer to in-person activities and have not been adapted to conform with health guidelines regulating the number of people who can meet in person or safety measures to prevent transmission of Covid-19. We recommend that you follow your local health department, district and/or state guidance related to safety and education for the 2020-2021 school year.

Bringing Attendance Home: Engaging Parents in Preventing Chronic Absence
Created with the help of practitioners who have worked successfully with families to improve attendance, this toolkit is filled with ideas, activities and materials that you can use to spark conversations with parents about how good attendance can help them fulfill their dreams and aspirations for their children's futures.

Research showing a positive relationship between parent involvement and attendance as well as the results of new studies examining parents' attitudes about school absences and their implications for messaging and action.

Key Principles for engaging parents on attendance.

Materials to share with parents about the importance of good attendance

Interactive Exercises to spark awareness, conversation and action with groups of parents about the consequences of poor attendance on their children's futures.

Attendance Works believes that parent and family engagement is a key component of an effective, comprehensive approach to reducing chronic absence. Parents are essential partners in promoting good attendance because they have the power to:

Make getting children to school on time every day a top priority

Alert schools and community agencies to barriers that keep kids from attending class

Ask for and monitor data on chronic absence

Demand action to address systemic barriers that may be causing large numbers of students to miss too much school.

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Bringing Attendance Home - Attendance Works

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Please note: The materials on this page were created prior to March 2020. Some of the recommendations or images may refer to in-person activities and have not been adapted to conform with health guidelines regulating the number of people who can meet in person or safety measures to prevent transmission of Covid-19.

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Video For Families About Attendance Importance

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Video For Families About Attendance Importance

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Ask parents about the importance of school attendance in the early grades, and they can tell you why showing up every day matters. They can also share their very real challenges in getting children to school. Bringing Attendance Home, a video from Attendance Works, features parents talking to other parents about reducing absenteeism. Filmed in schools across the country, the video offers tips for parents and schools to improve student attendance. We also offer a version dubbed in Spanish. The video is perfect for a back-to-school night or parent summit. Download the video, and a guide and PowerPoint for leading discussions below.

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Bringing Attendance Home Video - Attendance Works

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Ask parents about the importance of school attendance in the early grades, and they can tell you why showing up every day matters. They can also share their very real challenges in getting children to school. Bringing Attendance Home, a video from Attendance Works, features parents talking to other parents about reducing absenteeism.

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Parents want their children to do well in school but many don't fully understand the connection between chronic absence and a student's academic achievement. Hand out these flyers to help build the habit of attendance!

Health-related absences can often be avoided. Go to our Health Handouts page t o download flyers on Anxiety and When to Send a Student to School with a minor illness, or after being sick.

We are regularly updating these handouts to respond to changes and we are open to feedback. Please look at the date on the handout so you know you have the most up-to-date version (October or November, 2021). Make sure to communicate clearly with your families about health policies, including any related to Covid-19. Check out our blog post to learn more.
Download many of these handouts translated into Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

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Handouts for Families - Attendance Works

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Parents want their children to do well in school but many don't fully understand the connection between chronic absence and a student's academic achievement. Hand out these flyers to help build the habit of attendance! Health-related absences can often be avoided.

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Letter Templates to Use Throughout the Year

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Letter Templates to Use Throughout the Year

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Schools and districts are sending more communications than ever this school year. Communications sent home should be brief, written at a reading level parents will comprehend, and be clear and supportive rather than threatening, so action is taken by today's busy families.

We've updated for Covid-19 sample letters that can be used to welcome new students and families, to alert parents and caregivers when a student is chronically absent, or to send home before the Thanksgiving holiday or long winter break.

Download one of the sample letters below and personalize it for your school or district.

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Schools and districts are sending more communications than ever this school year. Communications sent home should be brief, written at a reading level parents will comprehend, and be clear and supportive rather than threatening, so action is taken by today's busy families.

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Attendance Awareness Month - Attendance Works

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Birth to Five Illinois - Family Council Recruitment

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Birth to Five Illinois - Family Council Recruitment

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Metro Chicago Mathematics Initiative (MCMI) PD Offerings for Teachers, Instructional Leaders & Administrators.

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Metro Chicago Mathematics Initiative (MCMI) PD Offerings for Teachers, Instructional Leaders & Administrators.

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teacher offerings overview

The professional development is designed to provide opportunities for teachers to explore problems of practice and provide high-quality experiences for students by:

Building a collaborative professional community of reflective mathematics teachers;

Developing teachers' understanding of what it means to provide equitable access to a wide variety of learners;

Enhancing participants' abilities to use high-quality mathematics tasks to engage in formative assessment processes and support the development of students' robust understanding of mathematics;

Expanding participants' vision of mathematics teaching and strengthen teacher content and pedagogical content knowledge;

Deepening teachers' understanding of Mathematics by promoting the Mathematical Content and Practices within and across grade levels.

offerings graphic

Collaboration at Multiple Levels

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The professional development is designed to provide opportunities for teachers to explore problems of practice and provide high-quality experiences for students by: Building a collaborative professional community of reflective mathematics teachers; Developing teachers' understanding of what it means to provide equitable access to a wide variety of learners; Enhancing participants'

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March 2023 Calendar with Holidays in printable format - United States. Includes 2023 Observances, Fun Facts & Religious Holidays: Christian, Catholic, Jewish & Muslim.

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Nudge Letters from West Chicago in English and Spanish (1)

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22/23 Attendance Network Running Notes Agenda

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22/23 Attendance Network Running Notes Agenda