Registration for prospective exhibitors for the 2014 Joint Annual Conference is now open. Links include instructions, floor map, contract, badge and housing registration, and advertising rates for the conference program. Registration and housing for board members, superintendents and others will be posted in early June.

Poverty plays a major role in student achievement, whether in urban or rural schools See the cover story: "Poverty at school: Tightrope of perils." Also...

This issue looks at the state's new guidance document on school emergency days, and the second annual state learning climate survey called 5Essentials. It also reports on Advanced Placement honors earned by an Illinois school district, plus recent Federal advocacy, a small/rural schools survey, a do or die school district referendum on the March 18 ballot, IASB's website governance videos, and a new pension reform act lawsuit.

Compiled each week during sessions of the General Assembly and as needed during off-session times, Alliance Legislative Reports summarize major legislative activities and bills of interest to school leaders. Read the latest ALR here (3/7/14).