Welcome to the Regional Office of Education #3

A new law that takes effect July 1, 2019, reinstates the requirement that a school day consist of a minimum of five hours of instructional time, a provision that previously sunset in 2017. Public Act 101-0012 also allows school districts statewide to utilize e-learning days in lieu of emergency days and maintains flexibility for students to engage in career-connected learning outside of the classroom.

ISBE's 2019-20 school year calendar application is now open for submissions in IWAS. Calendars should be submitted prior to the first day of the school year. If additional time is needed, please contact schoolcalendars@isbe.net. ISBE will provide further guidance on how districts can proceed with instructional day flexibility:

• ISBE One Page Information Guide
• ISBE ISBE Public School Calendar Web Panel

The ROEs of Area 5 have joined together to bring you the necessary academies for renewing your evaluation approval. We have quality presenters who understand your need for material you can USE and not just talk about. See our list of offered academies here

http://www.teachillinois.com

TeachIllinoisis a brand new, 100% online, center for educator professional development. Educators can either self-register, or districts can bulk register their staffs. Upon completion of the material, learners will complete the ISBE Seminar Evaluation Form, after which, the official ISBE Evidence of Completion form will be made available. All e-learning courses are currently free, although in the near future TeachIllinois will start charging a nominal, per-PD-hour fee. New content is added every month, and we welcome suggestions for future courses. Our e-learning platform is robust enough that a PD provider (such as a District) could subscribe and create their own 'channel'.

The Regional Office of Education #3 serving Bond, Christian, Effingham, Fayette and Montgomery Counties is currently offered on the first and third Fridays of the month in our Hillsboro office as well as on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month in our Taylorville office.

The TASC test is a high school equivalency test recognized by the State of Illinois and will assess five subject areas: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, as well as measure examinees’ readiness for college and the workforce. Passage of the TASC test will provide the same result as passing the GED test - a high school equivalency diploma from the State of Illinois.

• UPCOMING TASC TEST SCHEDULE IN HILLSBORO (PDF)
• UPCOMING TASC TEST SCHEDULE IN TAYLORVILLE (PDF)
• TASC Test Readiness Assessment Brochure (PDF)

A list of the TASC test study materials can be found on TASCTest.com. Questions can be directed to Sarah Huckstead at the ROE #3 Office in Taylorville at (217) 824-4730.

For residents who are interested in a computer-based test, the GED can be taken at various locations. For the ROE #3 area, testing centers are located in Springfield, Centralia and Mattoon. Other testing locations can be found at the website www.GED.com. Interested test-takers are encouraged to work with their local adult education provider at the community college to help prepare for whichever test they choose to take.