Registration is now open for IASB's New Board Member Workshops. Beginning May 8 and concluding July 11, these one- and two-day training events are designed to meet the needs of board members elected in 2015. Participants will be able to fulfill their mandatory board training on Friday. The Saturday sessions will provide board members with the essential information they need to understand and fulfill their governance role. Learn more HERE.

Learn more about the initiative for public education in Illinois to guide educators, legislators, labor, business, parents, and community members as they work together toward the common goal of fulfilling the promise of public education in Illinois.

The March/April 2015 issue of The Illinois School Board Journal offers multiple perspectives on high-stakes testing, Common Core and PARCC implementation. Read how Unity Point District 140 prepared its staff, and how Plainfield's District 202 engaged its community, for CCSS and PARCC. Also, recent administrator salary trends are explored in a piece by Western Illinois University professors Lora Wolff and Dean Halverson.

This issue reports on the Alliance Leadership Summit that brought local education leaders to the Illinois Capitol to open a dialogue with state officials on fulfilling the promise of public education. The summit featured an overview of Vision 20/20 legislative components, advice from a public policy expert, an advocacy expert, and others. It all led to a legislative lobbying effort by more than 600 local school leaders. Also read about school finance referendum questions appearing on April 7 ballots, along with news of IASB's upcoming mandatory board training workshops, and much more.

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 (3/6/15).