Earlier today, Governor Pritzker announced that he signed Senate Bill 1569 into law. The bill became Public Act 101-0643 and is effective immediately. In the coming weeks, and in consultation with guidance anticipated to be published by the Illinois State Board of Education in the near future, Whitt Law will continue its Planning for the [...]
Remote learning is different than the “E-learning” programs being piloted and planned throughout Illinois prior to COVID-19. Three school districts piloted E-learning prior to COVID-19. Their plans included: the creation of lesson plans; teacher, student, and parent education and practice; preparation of technology and materials; and the development of protocol for communication with students and [...]
Since March 17, 2020, school buildings in Illinois have been closed to student attendance. Now, school districts throughout the State are wrapping up their last month of the spring semester. Over the last several months, administrators, teachers, parents, and students rose to the many challenges COVID-19 created and most have experienced a myriad of feelings [...]
On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Illinois issued a joint proclamation convening a Special Session of General Assembly to begin this week (the “Joint Proclamation”). The Joint Proclamation was issued pursuant to an Illinois law called the Special Session Act, which allows a special session [...]
Staffing Considerations Amid COVID-19 Disaster Proclamations, Executive Orders, and “Stay at Home” Orders In the last several weeks formerly routine staffing considerations have now become much more complex for school districts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This post is Part One of Two intended to provide some insight into addressing staffing considerations in [...]
Introduction We know that school districts throughout the nation are moving from the rapid (yet deliberate) triage decision-making necessitated by COVID-19 to future-oriented planning. This guidance document is the third in a series intended to help school boards and administrators work through the types of questions they should be asking as they prepare to close [...]
