The following is a list of recent resources for those focused on the professional improvement of teachers, principals, and other educational leaders.

New, More Equitable School Funding Formula Culmination of Years-Long, Collaborative Effort  Advance Illinois applauds Illinois’ new, more equitable school funding formula that puts kids first and ends an era of the state having the most inequitable school funding system in the country. (Advance Illinois)

Summary of SB1947 Compromise  What is SB1947? How is it different from SB1? This summary breaks down the elements in the new bill. (Funding Illinois’ Future Coalition)

U.S. Department of Education Approves Illinois ESSA Plan  The Illinois Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education. What are the next steps for Illinois? (WAND 17)

How Do School Closures Impact Student Achievement?  A new report from Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) is the most expansive analysis on the effect of school closures on student achievement. Analysts examine 1,204 district and 318 charter school closures across 26 states occurring between 2006–07 and 2012–13. The study focuses on low-achieving schools—those whose students’ math and reading scores were in the bottom quintile in their respective states prior to closure. Most of the closures took place in urban areas—69 percent across both district and charter sectors. (Center for Research on Education Outcomes)

Legislation passed this General Assembly and signed by the Governor —HB3139 will require every school district, charter school, alternative school and school receiving public funds to collect and review its student chronic absentee data.  These schools must also determine what systems of support and resources are needed to engage all students in daily attendance and learning.

Districts & Universities Building Leader Tracking Systems Together   Learn more about how school districts can draw on data to improve the chances that a principal is ready for day one success on the job.  Check out these new resources from UCEA and The Wallace Foundation!  A recent webinar explored practical lessons learned from districts about building a Leader Tracking System (LTS) and how the data gathered can help leadership preparation programs measure effectiveness.

Teacher Turnover: Why It Matters and What We Can Do About It, finds that 90  percent of the nation’s annual demand for teachers is created by teachers who leave the profession. Some are retiring, but about two-thirds of teachers leave for other reasons, most due to dissatisfactions with teaching. Addressing teacher turnover is critical to stemming the country’s continuing teacher shortage crisis and improving educational opportunities and outcomes for all students, the report finds.