This coming week is National American Education Week (11/18 – 11/22). This week acknowledges all of the hard work that goes into the public-school system from teachers and parents to educational support professionals. Learn how to raise awareness for this week on social media with resources ranging from Conversation Starters for Kids on Parents Day to meeting the needs for your students.

Each day this week has a special theme recognizing the people involved in American Education. Plan activities around these themes to celebrate the week:

• Monday, November 18, 2019: Kickoff Day
• Tuesday, November 19, 2019: Parents Day
• Wednesday, November 20, 2019: Education Support Professionals Day
• Thursday, November 21, 2019: Educator for a Day
• Friday, November 22, 2019: Substitute Educators Day

Check out the official site for American Education Week and plan your week today.

The Illinois State Board of Education has developed a Career Guide for the 2019-2020 school year. This guide is to help students, parents, teachers, and counselors on the career paths that are available to Illinois students. View the Career Guide to learn more.

Through collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Education Systems Center has released a Career Development Experience Toolkit aligned to the frameworks established in the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act. The Toolkit is a gathering of best practices and resource sharing from communities doing incredible work throughout the state of Illinois and nationally to establish expectations for implementing high-quality, rigorous work-based learning experiences. Communities may apply, repurpose, and utilize these resources to provide meaningful and robust Career Development Experiences that ultimately prepare youth to be college and career-ready. Access and read more about the toolkit here. Please reach out to Heather Penczak, Policy & Program Manager at EdSystems, with any questions or needs (hpenczak@niu.edu).

Also, it is important to recognize the important role Career and Technical Education (CTE) plays in our public school system. Perkins V, a federal grant program that supports CTE at both the secondary and postsecondary levels, was reauthorized in the summer of 2018 and took effect July 1, 2019. The reauthorized Act reflects technological advances occurring in both education and the workforce. Key strategies include expanding access to dual credit opportunities, offering quality work-based learning, and addressing equity gaps within our CTE programs. For more information, visit www.isbe.net/perkins or http://www2.iccb.org/iccb/.

Check out the Illinois workNet resources below for additional reading:

• Events Near You
• Skills and Interests Surveys
• Youth Guide
• Setting Goals
• Present the Best You
• Apply for Jobs
• Balancing Work and Play
• Do You Need a Work Permit?
• Getting Started with Money Management – Young Adults
• Prevent Violence at School and Work
• Get a Head Start on Your Career with Student Organizations
• Do You Want to be an Intern?
• Saving for School
• Ways to Pay for School
• How to Make Informed Student Loan Decisions

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