Sending on behalf of State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala:
Dear Colleagues:
Thank you for your service to our students, families, and respective communities throughout the State of Illinois, especially as we work together to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and keep everyone in our schools and in our homes safe and healthy. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is working closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Governor’s Office, General Assembly, U.S. Department of Education, and other stakeholders to address all education issues related to the coronavirus/COVID-19. We are committed to minimizing the impact of the coronavirus on our students, families, and educators and to working together on solutions.
Please find ISBE’s guidance on questions surrounding chronic absenteeism, student travel, e-learning, and other concerns attached. ISBE has also developed a letter that you may provide to travel companies in the event that you need to request a refund or complimentary rebooking for a canceled or postponed trip: www.isbe.net/Documents/Letter-to-School-Districts-Travel.pdf
We will make the attached guidance document public on the ISBE website at www.isbe.net/pages/school-health-issues.aspx on Monday, March 9, and wanted to provide you as school and district leaders with advance notice in order to support your local communications to your school communities.
ISBE will update this guidance as necessary and as new information becomes available. Any changes to the document will be noted by date in the document. As such, we strongly encourage you revisit the document frequently and as conditions develop.
If you have any suggestions or additional questions, please do not hesitate to write to us at COVID19@isbe.net. I want to thank you once again for your leadership in a time of crisis. It is your leadership that will help keep our students, families, and communities safe.
Sincerely,
Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
State Superintendent of Education
Illinois State Board of Education
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William L. FallerSuperintendent
Pecatonica C.U.S.D. #321