2023-2024 Professional Learning Calendars

ISBE and the NIU Illinois CTE Project Team, part of the Illinois P-20 Network, invite you to participate in a variety of professional development opportunities this school year, including: 

  • Online Professional Learning Courses 
  • CTE & Equity Promising Practices 
  • Administrator Academies – Open to All 
    • Illinois Career Pathways Overview 
    • Social & Emotional Learning Leads to College & Career Readiness 
    • PaCE Framework Overview 
    • Forming Relationships with Community and Business Partners 
  • Teaching & Assessing the Essential Skills in CTE 
  • Writing Team-Based Challenges
  • Career Pathway User Group
  • ISBE Career Connections Conference – June 18, 2024 – Tinley Park Convention Center

For more information and to register, please visit the ISBE CTE Professional Learning Calendar – 2023-2024. Additional workshops will be added to the calendar moving forward!

July 2023

Illinois Career Connections Conference

Join the Illinois P-20 Network at the 2022 Illinois Career Connections Conference. Learn more at: http://ilcareerconnections.org/

December 2021

Illinois 60-by-25 Network Annual Conference

Join the Illinois P-20 Network at this year’s Illinois 60-by-25 Network Annual Conference. Learn more: https://www.60by25.org/2022-conference/

December 2021

MPC Series – PaCE Framework

This event is part of our partnership with Midwest Principals’ Center (MPC). This event is free to Midwest Principals’ Center members (both individuals and those that work for MPC partner districts). Those who are not MPC members can also attend this event for a fee.

In this 90-minute online workshop, participants will learn about the PaCE Framework and the role of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission in support the implementation of the PaCE Framework.

December 2021

MPC Series – An Overview of the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act

This event is part of our partnership with Midwest Principals’ Center (MPC). This event is free to Midwest Principals’ Center members (both individuals and those that work for MPC partner districts). Those who are not MPC members can also attend this event for a fee.

In this 90-minute online workshop, participants will learn about the Illinois Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act.

December 2021

MPC Series – Competency-Based Education

This event is part of our partnership with Midwest Principals’ Center (MPC). This event is free to Midwest Principals’ Center members (both individuals and those that work for MPC partner districts). Those who are not MPC members can also attend this event for a fee.

In this 90-minute online workshop, participants will learn about Competency-Based Education, which is included as part of the Illinois Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act. Competency-Based Education is one key to helping school districts unlock more success and learning for each student as it focuses on a shift from seat time and letter grades to personalization and a mastery of concepts and skills.

College and Career Readiness–Jason Klein–Competency-based Education

December 2021

MPC Series – Career Pathway Endorsements

This event is part of our partnership with Midwest Principals’ Center (MPC). This event is free to Midwest Principals’ Center members (both individuals and those that work for MPC partner districts). Those who are not MPC members can also attend this event for a fee.

In this 90-minute online workshop, participants will learn about the Career Pathway Endorsements and how we can restructure schools and learning to ensure that students are mastering competencies that are in-demand in the workplace and necessary for success in a community.

College and Career Readiness–Jason Klein–Career Pathways Endorsements

December 2021

Administrator Academy – Illinois Career Pathways

Online Administrator Academy from 9 AM until noon that provides a full Administrator Academy credit to participants. This workshop is open to educators at all levels, including both administrators and educators who are not in administrative roles.

In this workshop, participants will learn about the Illinois Career Pathways and the Illinois Career Pathway Endorsements. Participants will understand these broadly in the context of the Illinois Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act, and participants will dive deeply into learning about the Technical Competencies and the Cross-Sector Essential Employability Competencies; Work-Based Learning; and the connections between implementing the Career Pathways and how schools can shift more instruction to providing students with Authentic Learning opportunities.

Administrator Academy #3749 – College and Career Pathways

December 2021

Administrator Academy – Illinois Career Pathways

Online Administrator Academy from 9 AM until noon that provides a full Administrator Academy credit to participants. This workshop is open to educators at all levels, including both administrators and educators who are not in administrative roles.

In this workshop, participants will learn about the Illinois Career Pathways and the Illinois Career Pathway Endorsements. Participants will understand these broadly in the context of the Illinois Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act, and participants will dive deeply into learning about the Technical Competencies and the Cross-Sector Essential Employability Competencies; Work-Based Learning; and the connections between implementing the Career Pathways and how schools can shift more instruction to providing students with Authentic Learning opportunities.

Administrator Academy #3749 – College and Career Pathways

December 2021

Administrator Academy – PaCE Framework Overview

Online Administrator Academy from 9 AM until noon that provides a full Administrator Academy credit to participants. This workshop is open to educators at all levels, including both administrators and educators who are not in administrative roles.

In this workshop, participants will learn about the Illinois Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Framework and consider how best to implement it in their own school districts through an engaging change process that includes all stakeholders.

December 2021

Administrator Academy – Social and Emotional Learning Leads to Career & College Readiness

Online Administrator Academy from 9 AM until noon that provides a full Administrator Academy credit to participants. This workshop is open to educators at all levels, including both administrators and educators who are not in administrative roles.

 

In this workshop, participants will explore the Illinois State Board of Education’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Standards along with the Cross-Sector Essential Employability Competencies (Essential Skills) from the Illinois Career Pathways/Career Pathway Endorsements work. Educators will consider the connections between these learning outcomes, the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act, and the principles of authentic learning.

December 2021

Administrator Academies – 2021-2022

We are pleased to announce dates and topics for our half-day, online Administrator Academies that will be offered during the 2021-2022 school year. These sessions are not only open to school administrators but also to teachers, counselors, postsecondary faculty and leaders, and anyone else who is interested in learning more. 

Each workshop runs from 9 AM until noon, online via Zoom, and earns participants full Administrator Academy credit. Registration is only $124 per person. Additionally, when a school district registers 4 or more participants for a single workshop, we also offer 2 hours of free follow-up professional time that can be used for strategic planning with district leaders, for the facilitation of professional learning with teachers and administrators, or even for presentations to the school board and/or families. 

Additional Administrator Academies Coming…
Not only are we offering the Administrator Academies listed above, but we are currently in the process of developing new Administrator Academies, and we look forward to sharing more information on those this fall. 

Customized, Local Administrator Academies
Finally, any of these Administrator Academies can be delivered locally and customized to meet the needs of your Regional Office of Education, Education for Employment (EFE) region, school district, or other group. For more information, contact us at p20network@niu.edu

July 2021

P-20 Network Fall Virtual Meeting

Like the Spring 2020 P-20 Network Meeting, the Fall 2020 Meeting has also been moved to an online asynchronous event. Despite again missing out on face-to-face, real-time interactions, we are excited to bring you the relevant presentations that have been requested.

Each of the presentations below links to a video on the P-20 Network YouTube Channel.

Welcome – Thinking about Engagement Networks
Dr. Rena Cotsones, Chief Engagement Officer & Senior Associate Vice President, Northern Illinois University

College & Career Readiness – College & Career Pathways

An Overview of Career & Technical Education and Perkins V from ISBE & ICCB – Natasha Allan, Director for Career & Technical Education, Illinois Community College Board; Marci Johnson, Director of Career & Technical Education and Innovation, Illinois State Board of Education

Bringing Work Home: A Framework for Virtual Work-Based Learning (Also presented for the Forum for Excellence 2020) – Heather Penczak, Policy & Program Manager, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University; Carl Schneider, Fellow, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University; Nikki James, Practera at Northeastern University

Career Pathways Virtual Trailheads
Career Pathways Virtual Trailheads YouTube Playlist
Suggest a Guest

College & Career Readiness – Dual Credit

“How does a teacher get a dual credit endorsement in Illinois?” – Dr. Jenny Parker, Associate Vice Provost for Educator Licensure and Preparation, Northern Illinois University

Dual Credit Teacher Professional Development Plans – Alauna McGee, Director of Early College Opportunities, Heartland Community College

Equity & Opportunity

Parent University: Key Components and Getting Started – Susana Das Neves, Director of Illinois Migrant Education Services, Northern Illinois University

Research & Data

Illinois Postsecondary Profiles – Launch of Path 2 – Occupational Profiles – Charlie Rosemond, Data & Outcomes Manager, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University; Dr. Jason Klein, Director of P-20 Initiatives, Northern Illinois University

P-20 Research & Data Collaborative – Overview + State/Federal Projects – Dr. Alan Clemens, Director, NIU P-20 Research & Data Collaborative; Dr. Ben Creed, Assistant Professor, College of Education-Northern Illinois University; Dr. Kelly Summers, Associate Professor, College of Education-Northern Illinois University

P-20 Research & Data Collaborative – Working with Local Organizations: Perspectives from Superintendents – Dr. Steve Epperson, Superintendent, Paw Paw CUSD271; Dr. Lynn Gibson, Superintendent, Paw Paw CUSD271

For more information and to be part of the conversation of the P-20 Network:

October 2020

College Changes Everything (CCE) Conference

This year’s annual College Changes Everything® (CCE) conference is being held virtually in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The online conference includes both recorded interest sessions and a schedule of live sessions over a two-week period with the first live event on July 22, 2020. 

To register for the live sessions and access the recorded session as your schedule permits, please visit the 2020 CCE conference website

July 2020

June 2020 Administrator Academy Opportunities – Online

Each year, school administrators in Illinois are required to participate in at least one Administrator Academy professional learning workshop. Given the unprecedented and extraordinary efforts of educators throughout Illinois over the past two months, many administrators found their original plans to participate an Administrator Academy were unable to be completed. As the P-20 Network had already been developing a menu of Administrator Academies to offer for the 2020-2021 school year, we are excited to offer four online Administrator Academy workshops this June.

These workshops are being offered in conjunction with the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education and registration links for each online workshop are posted on the DeKalb County ROE Professional Development website under the June 2020. Of course, teachers are also invited to these professional learning sessions, and Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will also be provided to those attending who are not administrators. Each workshop only costs $124 per participant.

  • June 10 – STEAMing it Up! Integrate science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM) throughout the school (in conjunction with NIU STEAM) – Dr. Kristin Brynteson (Administrator Academy #3697)
  • June 12 — Illinois Transitional Math: All students ready for postsecondary math courses in their field of study (in conjunction with NIU STEAM) – Dr. Kristin Brynteson & Dr. Jason Klein (Administrator Academy #3696)
  • June 17 — How Data Demands Dual Credit for Everyone – Expanding Early College Options – Dr. Jason Klein (Administrator Academy #1895)
  • June 24 – Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Framework: Are Your Students On PaCE to Thrive? – Dr. Amy Jo Clemens & Dr. Jason Klein (Administrator Academy #1890)

The P-20 Network is also actively developing additional Administrator Academies that we look forward to offering in the near future during the 2020-2021 school year. For more information, please contact Jason Klein.

 

May 2020

P-20 Network Virtual Spring Meeting

Our Spring 2020 P-20 Network Meeting was originally scheduled for April 23, 2020, at NIU Naperville. Due to the shelter-in-place order in Illinois as a result of COVID-19, the Spring P-20 Network Meeting has been moved to an asynchronous virtual event. While this format unfortunately requires us to miss out on the face-to-face discussions that are such a critical part of the P-20 Network, we are excited to share a number of the previously planned presentations as videos that can be viewed across the P-20 Network and beyond.

Each of the presentations below links to a video on the P-20 Network YouTube Channel.

Transitional English – More info coming soon!
In the coming weeks, we also look forward to hosting a webinar about proposed competencies for Transitional English that have been developed by a group composed of stakeholders from across school districts, postsecondary institutions, and state agencies throughout Illinois.

Meeting Evaluation
After watching the videos, please take a few minutes to provide feedback using this short form on your P-20 Network experience as well as on the needs of your organization moving forward.

NIU P-20 Research & Data Collaborative
From statewide research projects to working with districts of all sizes on their research and data needs, the NIU P-20 Research & Data Collaborative is excited to offer a wide range of services and partnerships to advance knowledge and practice. Learn more about the NIU P-20 Research & Data Collaborative, and contact us for more information about specific projects.

For more information and to be part of the conversation of the P-20 Network:

Fall 2020 P-20 Network Meeting
Finally, plan now to attend the Fall 2020 P-20 Network Meeting on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at the Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center on-campus at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

April 2020

Spring 2020 Meeting – Moving Online

Our Spring 2020 P-20 Network Meeting was originally scheduled for April 23rd at NIU Naperville. Due to the continued shelter-in-place order in Illinois, the Spring P-20 Network Meeting will not be held face-to-face on April 23rd.

We are excited to share that we will have many of our presentations available as videos online, and we plan to release these videos on April 23rd. The videos will be publicly available for your organizations to view. More details will be shared as we get closer to April 23rd.

March 2020