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September 15, 2011 Volume VII

The Electronic Report for the Illinois Coalition of Non-Public Schools (ICNS) has returned for a new school year. As a member school administrator, you will receive each month an issue of the Electronic Report. The purpose of this Report is to provide brief synopses of developments with the Illinois Coalition of Non-Public Schools, legislative updates, and information of interest to our nonpublic school administrators. As a benefit of membership, the Electronic Report is written and sent to you each month during the school year as a way of working to keep you informed. If you have not yet renewed your membership in ICNS, please consider doing this so you will continue to receive each issue of the Electronic Report.

ADVOCATING FOR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The Illinois Coalition of Nonpublic Schools (ICNS) continues to work hard in Springfield for you. During the 2012 spring legislative session, the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor did begin to address the state’s financial crises through Medicaid changes, but they have not yet completed any pension reform. Until this issue is dealt with the state’s financial condition is likely to remain dire. Of course, this continues to have a direct negative effect on almost all nonpublic schools.

In a concerted effort to restore lost funding ICNS (in partnership with the Catholic Conference of Illinois) will continue its high commitment to enhance our lobbying impact and influence with both ISBE and Illinois state legislators.

ICNS is committed to continuing our strong advocacy for Illinois nonpublic schools. But your membership dues are critical to our success. A minimal and reasonable investment to purchase your membership to ICNS is well worth the cost of $75 for 1 year or $125 for 2 years. Click here to find a form to use in renewing your membership. http://www.icns.net/icnsrenewal1112.pdf

ICNS LEGISLATIVE GOALS FOR 2012-2013

In priority order:1. Work to restore funding to the Textbook Block

Grant, Educational Improvement and School Safety Block Grant and the Parent/Guardian Transportation Reimbursement programs.

2. Maintain a smooth and cooperative relationship between the State Board of Education and nonpublic schools to ensure an effective state recognition program for nonpublic schools.

3. Pursue and support school choice options – such as tax credits and vouchers – as opportunities exist.

SCHOOL SAFETY BILL

The school safety bill, passed in 2005, requires annual reporting by nonpublic school administrators. Each year schools need to conduct 3 evacuation (fire) drills, 1 bus evacuation drill (which can be curriculum based and done in the classroom without a bus), 1 severe weather drill, and a law enforcement drill in which local law enforcement may participate.

Of the 3 evacuation drills, one should be held in conjunction with your local fire department. By September 1, your school should have been contacted by the Fire Department to schedule the drill. If this has not happened, make sure you contact them. In addition to these drills, the Statute requires a one page annual review report be filed with the Office of the State Fire Marshal. This form may be completed and saved using Adobe Reader. Compliance Reports completed by private elementary and secondary schools are to be submitted to the OSFM, on or before October 1st of each school year, at Office of the State Fire Marshal, Division of Fire Prevention, 1035 Stevenson Dr., Springfield, IL 62703-4259.

An Electronic Newsletter for ICNS Member Schools September 2012

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STUDENT HEALTH DATA - IMMUNIZATION REPORT

Now is the critical time to be on t o p o f r e c e i v i n g s t u d e n t immunization records. The report will be due to the Illinois State Board of Education by November 15. If this form is not filed in a timely manner, you will NOT be able to successfully complete your Nonpublic School Application for Recognition and Calendar due November 15 this year. ISBE will b e u n w a v e r i n g i n t h i s requirement.

ISBE DEADLINE

In order to participate in the school-based Child Nutrition Program for fiscal year 2012 (October 1, 2012 - September 30, 2012), the Sponsor and Site applications must be completed t h r o u g h I WA S s y s t e m b y September 15, 2012.

EDUCATION IN THE NEWS

From the mouths of babes - A recent examination by the Center for American Progress (CAP) of the student-questionnaire portion of the NAEP finds many students in elementary and high schools around the country are not being challenged academically. For instance, 37 percent of fourth-graders say their math work is too easy. More than a third of high-school seniors report they hardly ever write about what they read in

class, and nearly a third of eighth-graders report reading fewer than five pages a day either in school or for homework. In a global economy, where the mastery of science is crucial, 72 percent of eighth-grade science students say they aren't taught engineering and technology. The CAP found 51 percent of eighth-grade civics students and 57 percent of eighth-grade history students say their work is often or always too easy. Twenty-one percent of 12th-graders say their math work is often or always too easy, and 56 percent find their civics and history work often or always too easy. Based on these and other findings, the CAP recommends policymakers continue to push for h i g h e r , m o r e c h a l l e n g i n g standards. Student surveys provide important insights into teacher effectiveness, so the s u r v e y s t h e m s e l v e s m u s t continue to be developed and implemented.

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2012/07/state_of_education.html

Whither vouchers? - As Louisiana debuts one of the nation's most extensive voucher programs, a fissure persists over whether the government or parents should be accountable for determining academic failure and financial abuse. Historically, political confederacies around vouchers have been complex, allying Democrats who view it as a social-justice issue with more right-wing politicians, but recent debates have fa l len a long traditional party lines. Jeffrey Henig of Teachers College at Columbia University has identified three types of privatization: "pragmatic," which aims to force government to do a better job; "sys temic , " wh ich seeks a weakening of the government's

role; and "tactical," which aims to advance the interest of a party or candidate. Tactical privatization appears to fuel at least some of the current voucher efforts. Louisiana's new voucher program relies more on back-end than front-end accountability, which critics argue opens the door to financial abuse and academic failure. Future voucher policy may well be shaped by what happens on the ground in Louisiana this school year. In 2011, more than 30 states introduced school voucher bills, an increase of more than 300 percent from 2010.http://hechingerreport.org/content/s c h o o l - v o u c h e r s - m a k e - a -comeback-stir-concerns-about-quality_9285/

PUBLICATIONS RELATED TO NON-PUBLIC EDUCATION

Publications related to non-public education are available from the U.S. Department of Education. Click here for a list.

GENERAL ELECTION INFORMATION

The General Election is set for November 6, 2012. The election will be pivotal for Illinois in many ways as all legislators are running in newly drawn districts. Scores of incumbents have resigned from the Illinois General Assembly, or have been forced to run against other incumbents because of the new district boundaries.

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The new House and Senate District Numbers can be found at the following link; simply enter your school address: http://gis.elections.il.gov/map_viewer/default.aspx

To find the legislative candidates running in your area, go to the Illinois State Board of Elections website and find “STATE REPRESENTATIVE/STATE SENATOR” at: http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/CandidateFilingSearchByOffice.aspx?id=33

GOVERNOR COMPLETES ACTION ON BILLS

Governor Pat Quinn completed action on all of the legislation sent to him by the Illinois General Assembly th is spr ing . The Governor has 60 days to act on legislation sent to him by the legislature. This includes the 62 education related bills approved by the General Assembly this year. One of the Governor’s last acts was to veto the gaming expansion bill. The bill would establish a land-based casino in Chicago, provide for four new riverboat casinos, and allow slot machines at horse racetracks. The program is estimated to generate $1 billion in one time revenues for the gaming licenses, and an additional $700 million to $1 billion in recurring revenues to the State. A portion of all gaming funds is allocated to the Common School Fund.

It will take an extraordinary majority vote in both chambers of the legislature to override the Governor’s veto – a prospect that most observers view as unlikely. Both the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives are scheduled to return to the Capitol on November 27th for the VetoSession.

RECENT LEGISLATIVE ACTIONThe Governor has recently signed the following bills into law:

HB 3806 (Cavaletto, R-Salem) changes the definition of “chronic truant” in the Juvenile CourtAct to be the same as the definition in the School Code. The bill is now Public Act 97-0975, effective August 17, 2012.

HB 3826 (Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora ) , regard ing serv ice animals that must be allowed in schools, the bill provides that "service animal" means a dog, a guide animal, a seizure alert animal, a mobility animal, a psychiatric service animal, an autism service animal, or an animal trained for any other physical, mental, or intellectual disability. The bill expands the definition of “service animal” and adds to the types of disabilities that would allow a student to use a service animal in schools.. The bill is now Public Act 97-0956, effective August 14, 2012.

SB 2524 (Holmes, D-Aurora) provides that liability insurance policies issued or renewed on and after January 1, 2013 shall comply with the following: (1) any vehicle that is used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit and is used in connection with the operation of private day care fac i l i t ies, day camps, summer camps, or nursery schools shall carry a minimum of liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 combined single limit per accident; (2) all other vehicles which are used for a purpose that requires a school bus driver permit shall carry a minimum of liability insurance in the amount of $2,000,000 combined single limit per accident. The bill is now Public Act 97-1078, effective August 24, 2012.

CAPE OUTLOOK

If you graduated from a private high school this past June, you were significantly more likely than graduates of other schools to be ready for college coursework, according to data compiled by ACT, the college admission testing company. Eighty-three percent of 2012 graduates of religious and independent schools who took the ACT met o r surpassed the test's college readiness benchmark score in English, compared to 64 percent of graduates from public schools. The share of students who met the benchmark scores in other subjects was also higher in private schools (see chart).

The ACT recently released a report titled The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2012, which summarizes the national performance of ACT-tested students. At CAPE's request, the company compiled comparable data for private school graduates.

Find out more about the ACT report in the September issue of CAPE Outlook, available here for d o w n l o a d a s a f r e e P D F document.

Also in the September Outlook:• Vouchers Improve College

Attendance for Black Students • Charter Schools Draw

Students from Private Schools • Montessori Google Doodle • Olympic Athletes from Private

Schools

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Prudential: Spirit of Community Awards- The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people in grades 5 through 12 who have demonstrated exemplary voluntary service to their communities. Maximum award: $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. Eligibility: Students grades 5-12 who have conducted a volunteer service activity within the past year. Deadline: November 13, 2012.http://spirit.prudential.com/view/page/soc/14830

VSP: Sight for Students - Sight for Students is a VSP charity that provides free vision exams and glasses to low-income, uninsured children. The program operates nationally through a network of community partners who identify children in need and VSP network doctors who provide the eyecare services. Parents and guardians interested in seeking assistance through the Sight for Students program must work through VSP's established network of community partners. VSP does not issue gift certificates directly to the public. Eligibility: There are five basic qualifications a child must meet in order to receive a Sight for Students gift certificate: family income is no more than 200 percent of federal poverty level (see website for chart); child is not enrolled in Medicaid or other vision insurance; child is 18 years old or younger and has not graduated from high school; child or parent is a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant with a social security number; and child has not used the Sight for Students program during the past 12 months. Deadline: N/A.http://www.sightforstudents.org/

CONTACT US

All of our member schools should be receiving a membership letter related to joining ICNS for the 2012-13 school year. If you committed to two years of membership, we thank you for your support. For those schools that now need to renew, please complete the application on-line at http://www.icns.net/icnsrenewal1213.pdf for either one year at $75 or for two years of membership for $125. The on-line membership form can also be accessed at the ICNS website: http://www.icns.net/membership.htm

If you have any questions, comments or need information related to our efforts in supporting nonpublic schools, feel free to communicate with us by sending an e-mail to ICNS.

GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Lowe's: Toolbox for EducationLowe's Toolbox for Education funds school improvement projects initiated by parents in recognition of the importance of parent involvement in education. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: K-12 schools (including charter, parochial, private, etc.) or parent groups (associated with a nonprofit K-12 school). Deadline: October 12, 2012.http://toolboxforeducation.com/

Clorox: Power a Bright Future Grants- Clorox Power a Bright Future Grants aim to provide necessary resources to help support school programs that enrich kids' lives. Maximum award: $50,000. Eligibility: Anyone at least 18 years old at time of entry can nominate an accredited K-12, public or private school program. Deadline: October 17, 2012.http://www.powerabrightfuture.com/