The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) recently released a survey showing school districts in Illinois have 1,006 unfilled teacher positions this year. Teacher vacancies can mean larger class sizes or, in smaller school districts, classes that just aren’t offered. In addition, 74% of the vacancies are in majority-minority school districts, while 81% are in … Continue reading Illinois’s Teacher Shortage Visualized
PTA SPOTLIGHT 2017: A Story of Art and Celebration
On May 13, the Illinois PTA 4th Annual SPOTLIGHT: A Children’s Celebration of Art and Community was held at Millikin University in Decatur. This year, 235 participants viewed the galleries, participated in workshops, and celebrated our children. We thank Mother Nature for providing our families a perfect day to make a day trip to Decatur … Continue reading PTA SPOTLIGHT 2017: A Story of Art and Celebration
Help Your Child Be the First in the Family to Go to College
May 1st was college decision day for high school seniors—the day they let the college of their choice know they were coming. Some of those students will be the first in their family to attend college, and they face challenges that those whose parents went to college don’t deal with. But helping your child become … Continue reading Help Your Child Be the First in the Family to Go to College
PTA SPOTLIGHT 2016: An Amazing Day of Art and Celebration
What an amazing day was had by all at this year’s SPOTLIGHT: A Children’s Celebration of Art and Community held at Millikin University in Decatur, IL. This year, 298 participants viewed the galleries, participated in workshops, and celebrated our children, a 39% increase over last year’s attendance. While the weather outside was gloomy, smiles brightened … Continue reading PTA SPOTLIGHT 2016: An Amazing Day of Art and Celebration
Second Annual Spotlight Celebrates Illinois’s Amazing Children
Families from across Illinois gathered this past Saturday at Millikin University for Spotlight: A Children’s Celebration of Art and Community. The event at Kirkland Fine Arts Center showcased approximately 500 PTA Reflections entries that advanced to the state level of judging, provided a wide variety of workshops, and recognized student artists and leaders from across … Continue reading Second Annual Spotlight Celebrates Illinois’s Amazing Children
Plan Now to Celebrate PTA Founders’ Day
Alice McLellan Birney aspired to create a better world for children at a time when many of them left school early in their teenage years to begin working in factories. Alice found someone who shared her vision in Phoebe Apperson Hearst, and on February 17, 1897 they began to implement that vision with the first … Continue reading Plan Now to Celebrate PTA Founders’ Day
Navigate the Financial Aid Wilderness with This Federal Infographic
If you’ve got a high school senior in your house, your family is likely deep in the college application process and wondering how to pay for it all as well. Navigating the various types of student loans and other financial aid can be confusing, especially if you’re going through it for the first time. The … Continue reading Navigate the Financial Aid Wilderness with This Federal Infographic
Money for Future Teachers Available!
What? The Illinois PTA has two scholarships available throughout the state each year. The top prize is $3,000 and the runner up is $2,000. Who? Any public high school senior that has a GPA of 3.0 or better. They must be enrolled in the education field or an education-related field (e.g., to become a school … Continue reading Money for Future Teachers Available!
One Voice Illinois 