January 2003

January 16 -- Teacher Aides get draft guidance for meeting requirements of federal No Child Left Behind Law
January 15 -- Report shows signs of improvement in teacher supply - Retirements may yield shortage of administrators
January 7 -- Governor Releases $8.1 for Teacher Mentoring and Induction Program
Budget Proposal Seeks Substantial Increase for State's Financially Strapped Schools
January 3 -- Governor Accepts Final Report from School Code Revision Commission

February 2003

February 28 -- Blue Ribbon Schools Nominated
February 26 -- Local Agencies Receive 21^st Century Grants
February 24 -- Illinois Virtual High School News Segment (requires Real Player)
February 20 -- School Districts to Receive Reading First Funds
February 19 -- State Board of Education Approves Accountability Measures for No Child Left Behind
February 14 -- State Superintendent Appoints Members of Financial Oversight Panel For Cairo School District 1
February 6 -- State Board Approves Oversight Panel for Cairo School District
February 3 -- Finalists for State Teacher of Year Announced

March 2003

April 2003

April 30, 2003--State Board of Education Recommends Legislature Deny 3 of 85 Waiver Requests
April 29, 2003--Analysis of Governor's Budget by District
April 18, 2003--Statement of ISBE Chairman Ronald J. Gidwitz
April 17, 2003--Technology Grants Awarded to 53 School Districts
April 9, 2003--Governor Blagojevich's Budget Gives Lift to Financially Strapped Schools

May 2003

May 31, 2003--House and Senate send final education budget to Governor
May 23, 2003--House and Senate Pass Budget
May 16, 2003--Electronic system will streamline process and eliminate paperwork
May 14, 2003--State Board of Education Supports Safety Belt Use; Tells Teens of Law Enforcement Safety Belt Enforcement Crackdown
May 13, 2003--State Board of Education approves comprehensive changes in System of Support for academically struggling schools
May 13, 2003--State Board of Education updates approved list of Supplemental Educational Service Providers
May 12, 2003--State Superintendent names new chair and members to Round Lake School Finance Authority
May 6, 2003--State Board of Education approves graduation and attendance rate targets for Adequate Yearly Progress under federal No Child Left Behind law
May 1, 2003--State Board of Education Suggests Changes in Proposed FY 04 Education Budget

June 2003

June 30, 2003--Hazel Crest district finances see turnaround
June 25, 2003--State Board Approves Oversight Panel for Venice
June 19, 2003--State Superintendent announces agency budget cuts
June 17, 2003--State Board accepts proposed criteria for “highly qualified” teachers under federal law
June 17, 2003--State Board approves revised trajectory for adequate yearly progress under federal No Child Left Behind law
June 17, 2003--State Board of Education grants provisional approval of new teacher preparation programs
June 17, 2003--State Board of Education approves appointments to the State Teacher Certification Board
June 17, 2003--State Board of Education acts on Thomas Jefferson Charter School request for renewal

July 2003

July 31, 2003--State Board of Education Set to Release List of Non-Public Schools Receiving Recognition
July 28, 2003--Financial Oversight Panel for Venice Community Unit School District No. 3
July 24, 2003--Line Item Veto Cuts Will Eliminate Statewide Education Services
July 23, 2003--5-Year ISAT Test Data Show Mixed Results
July 22, 2003--Special Board Meeting
July 21, 2003--State Board of Education to Release Statewide Tests Results
July 15, 2003--State Board of Education faces service and staff cutbacks
July 14, 2003--Special Meeting
July 3, 2003--State Superintendent Appoints Three-Member Oversight Panel for Venice School District

August 2003

August 26 -- Illinois College-Bound Seniors Continue to Outperform Nation on SAT, AP exams
August 20--Illinois' ACT Scores Support College-Prep Background
August 19--August Board Meeting
August 18--August Board Meeting
August 13--Financial Oversight Panel for Venice Community Unit School District No. 3
August 13--State Board of Education Grants Recognition to 674 Non-public Schools for 03-04 School Year
August 13--State Superintendent of Education Starts Process of Revoking Two North Greene Educators' Licenses
August 12--State Superintendent of Education Availability
August 12--Officials Announce Plan for “Full Service Community Schools” Initiative in Illinois
August 8, 2003--State Board of Education will not renew Thomas Jefferson School Charter
August 7, 2003--State Board of Education Releases Preliminary School Choice List
August 6, 2003--“Choice” Media Availability
August 6, 2003--Governor Signs Bill Enhancing State Assessment System
August 6, 2003--21st Century Community Learning Grants
August 1, 2003--State Board of Education Announces Early Childhood Block Grants

September 2003

September 19--U.S. Department of Education - Paige Announces First List of No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools
September 18--State Board Approves Five-Year Renewal for Prairie Crossing Charter School

October 2003

October 24, 2003 -- State Board of Education announces grants to regional agencies to provide services to schools in academic difficulty
October 23, 2003 -- State Board of Education Will Seek Legislation to Address Certification Problem
October 23, 2003 -- Additional Supplemental Educational Services Providers Approved by State Board
October 23--Seven Illinois public schools step into spotlight for making the grade
October 17--Distinguished Service Award for Ron Gidwitz
October 17--State Superintendent supports Venice Financial Oversight Panel’s decision to remove school board
October 16--October 22-23, 2003 State Board Meeting to be held in Rock Island
October 14--Teaching Math Equals National Recognition
October 10--"Special" Educator Receives National Teaching Award
October 1--223 School Districts to get State Technology Grants

November 2003

November 17, 2003--East Richland Board President is Tops in State
November 17, 2003--Five eastern Illinois public schools step into spotlight for making the grade
November 13, 2003--Illinois Reading and Math Results Parallel Nation’s Report Card
November 6, 2003--Seven Chicago-area public schools step into spotlight for making the grade
November 5, 2003--Seven Chicago-area public schools to be recognized
November 4, 2003 -- State releases 2003 Illinois State Report Card
November 3, 2003 -- State Superintendent to release and discuss State Report Card

December 2003

December 18, 2003 --State Board to release Condition of Education Report for 2003
December 16, 2003--Announcement of Public Forum
December 10, 2003--School Report Card Update
December 10, 2003--School Report Card Embargo Request
December 2, 2003--Eight Metro East and southern Illinois public schools step into spotlight for making the grade