Major Conferences Organized by The Center
The Center and its programs plan and execute seven statewide events for Illinois educators and, in some instances, broader audiences. All Center conferences feature high-profile experts and/or nationally known speakers, and are conducted in high-quality venues that emphasize the professionalism of educators and other attendees.
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Elementary and Secondary Education Act Conference
Annual Statewide Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Conference
In 1965, Congress authorized The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the most significant and far-reaching federal legislation affecting education ever passed. Reauthorized in 2015 as “Every Student Succeeds Act” (replacing “No Child Left Behind”), it provides significant funding for early childhood, primary and secondary education. It also emphasizes equal access to education and a commitment to high standards and accountability.
The Annual ESSA Conference serves Illinois educators who seek high level professional development in line with current federal and state education priorities. The Illinois State Board of Education and other educational associations have a major role in the development of the conference agenda. The program includes keynote speakers, concurrent sessions, workshops and meetings focused on high quality instruction, continuous improvement, and engagement of schools with parents and others in the community.
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS
Annual Conference for Teachers of Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students
A major event of the year for administrators and teachers of English-language learners, this annual statewide conference features nationally recognized speakers, expert panels and a broad range of concurrent panels on a vast range of topics related to English language learning. Because of its size, breadth and depth of content and high-profile presenters, this conference is considered among the very best nationally for teachers of students with limited English proficiency.
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Job Fair
Illinois Bilingual/ESL Education Job Fair
To help match bilingual and ESL educators with jobs, each year The Center organizes an education job fair. Hundreds of teachers meets with representatives of schools districts across Illinois to discuss bilingual education approaches and available positions.
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Bilingual Parent Summit
Bilingual Parent Summit
The Annual Statewide Summit for Bilingual Parents provides a rich mix of information about issues of critical importance to parents from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds. Top speakers are joined by experts and panels on such topics as pathways to academic success, enhanced parental participation in schools, immigration issues, U.S. citizenship, bilingual education programs, community college services, effective parenting techniques, health care alternatives, and much more.
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Adult Learning
Adult Learning Resource Center Fall Conference
The Center’s Adult Learning Resource Center (ALRC) each year organizes an Adult Education Fall Conference, sponsored by the Illinois Community College Board. The conference, which offers professional development hours for educators, includes exhibits from providers of adult education media, textbooks and resources, and features dozens of concurrent sessions, organized into professional development strands, on a vast range of adult learning considerations.