The Task Force on Special Education has begun research on, The State of SPED Teacher Retention in Illinois. They are looking for candidates to be part of a survey that is seeking to understand the perceptions and experiences of special educators (LBS1, PK-22) in Illinois in terms of educator retention. We would appreciate your participation in sharing this survey as it will assist us in making recommendations for improving the current systems, services, and support offered in Illinois. The survey will take approximately 8-10 minutes to complete. Link to survey: https://tinyurl.com/ILSpecialEd
Please forward the survey to alumni in Special Education or graduate educators in Special Education who may meet the eligibility requirements:
- A current or former certified special education teacher serving students with disabilities in (PK-22)
- Work(ed) in special education in Illinois for a minimum of 6 months
- 18-years of age or older
If you have any questions about this project at any time, feel free to contact Dr. Amanda Passmore at amanda.passmore@elmhurst.edu or 630.617.3234
The Teacher Leader Task Force is working on an article on Teacher Leadership for Voices March 15th Teacher Leadership and the Leadership Framework will meet at 1:00. Topics of conversation include: The Teacher Leader Coalition, A Vision for Teacher Leadership in the Leadership Framework for Illinois, What do Education Leaders Know About Teacher Leadership in Illinois, The Teacher Leader Apprenticeship.
The Technology and Teacher Preparation Task Force will meet at 10:30 on Sept. 18. Our initial plan will be to share what technology currently looks like in our programs and share ideas about what it might look like given new work in this area. To join the Technology and Teacher Preparation Task Force
The Literacy Task Force will continue their focus on ICLP Alignment: Next Steps for Educator Preparation Programs.
Project LEAD, Leaders in Education Advocating for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has been collecting data on preservice candidates from 2024-Spring 2026 and followed candidates into their first classrooms. They have been analyzing this data over the summer. The Project LEAD Task Force will meet for an overview of that research and to plan for the Fall Forum. New college and university teams are cordially invited to join this group. To join them as they plan for the 2026 Fall Forum and review their summer research What LEAD Candidates Know About Teacher Leadership as Preservice Candidates and What Teacher Leadership Looks Like As They Begin Teaching
Bring your lunch and join us for a presentation on the new Illinois Numeracy Plan adopted in June 2026. Kirsten Parr and members of the Illinois Numeracy Task Force will share an overview of the Numeracy Plan and answer questions you might have about the Numeracy Plan and its impact on PK-12 education and Teacher Preparation. Please send me any questions you might have in advance so that I can share them with the presenters.