New: ISBE-ISAC Partnership to Benefit HS Seniors Across the State 

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is pleased to announce in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) that the reports generated through the ISAC FAFSA Completion Initiative will be accepted by ISBE as documentation to be used for compliance with the state’s requirement that all Illinois public high school seniors complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. ISAC’s FAFSA Completion Initiative shares data with participating schools on a weekly basis to identify students who have not filed a financial aid application (the FAFSA or the Alternative Application).  In addition, 431 Illinois high schools were recognized for supporting their class of 2021 students in filing financial aid applications for postsecondary education.  

 

To ensure ISAC has up-to-date student data for a school for the FAFSA Completion Initiative and to be considered for the 2022 Financial Aid Completion Recognition Award, a high school needs to do a student record upload into the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal.  Instructions for the file upload process, as well as the participation agreement if a school is not already participating, are provided in the FAFSA Completion Initiative User Guide, which is accessed via the GAP Access User Guides area. Once uploaded, those lists will then be used to match FAFSA and Alternative Application completion data. It is important to note that the FAFSA Upload function is separate from the State Scholar Program File Upload process schools may do with ISAC. 

Read about the ASCA summer conference, ASCA initiatives, and professional development offerings. 

ISCA Back to School Fall Newsletter

Important Information from your ISCA Board, Conference, Legal Updates, and More!

Click here for Link to the article

The National Board Resource Center (NBRC) is a nonprofit organization that has been charged with overseeing the Illinois State Board of Education program that enables teachers and counselors to become National Board certified. NBRC provides free support for teachers and counselors throughout their journey to National Board Certification. 

Illinois State Board of Education is pleased to announce the $1,900 National Board Candidate Fee Subsidy application is now available for Illinois teachers and counselors wishing to pursue National Board Certification beginning the 2021-22 school year. Applications open on September 01 are due by October 10. Additionally, many districts in the state of Illinois offer incentives for educators once they obtain certification. 

There is one school counseling certificate area:

The Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/School Counseling certificate is appropriate for counselors who work with students in grades preK–12 (ages 3–18+) in educational settings. These school counselors may work with individuals, small groups, a whole class, or the entire school to advance student learning academically, emotionally, and socially, and in the area of career development. Some may focus their counseling primarily in the area of student assistance, college planning, academic testing, or a more general guidance delivery model. However, all school counselors, without regard to their assignment, practice in a manner designed to advance student learning in the areas of academic, personal/social, and career development.

View more information about the process. Additionally, this video testimonial shares the experiences of Illinois National Board Certified Teachers while these slides explain the certification process and subsidy. The attached brochure provides a brief overview of the certificate components. Click this link to access more information.

 

 

Please email jsmit31@ilstu.edu or Director Amy Smith at assmith3@ilstu.edu  for more information.

Check out TaRael Kee's Podcast. Just released! 

• CPS is Hiring Increased Numbers of School Counselors - Click here for more information and for the link to apply.
  
  

• Larkin High School located in Elgin, IL is currently accepting applications for a School Counselor position (Bilingual Preferred). Larkin High School is one of five high schools in School District U-46, the second-largest K-12 Unit District in Illinois. We are a public, four-year comprehensive high school with an anticipated enrollment of 2100 students for the 2021-2022 School Year.

  Applications can be submitted online: https://www.applitrack.com/u46/onlineapp/default.aspx

  
  
• Eureka Middle School (grades 5-8) is in search of a School Counselor for the 2021-22 school year. Ideal candidates have a strong work ethic, value a collaborative community and have strong interpersonal communication skills. Candidates must have a valid Professional Educator License as a School Counselor or School Social Worker. Candidates can have a LPC/LCPC and are willing to become school certified. Congerville-Eureka-Goodfield CUSD 140 is a K-12 unit district serving approximately 1500 students. It is located 25 minutes from Bloomington/Normal and Peoria, Illinois. Applications can be submitted online at: https://www.district140.org/district/employment-opportunities. For more information, please contact Principal Kelly Nichols, at 309-467-5718, or kelly.nichols@district140.org.
  
  
• Channahon junior High School has an opening for either a school counselor or social worker position.  We are accepting applications through the end of next week.    Channahon Junior High School is a terrific school and would be a great place for a counselor to start their career.  
  Position: School Social Worker OR School Counselor
  Attendance Center: Channahon Junior High
  Term: 2021-2022 School Year (and beyond)
  Salary: Per collective bargaining agreement (estimated minimum of at least $46,500)
  Qualifications:  Professional Educator's License
  If interested, please apply online or contact Dr. Chad Uphoff for more information. cuphoff@csd17.org 

Chalkbeat article featuring ISCA Board Member, John Casey and Vince Walsh-Rock, ISCA Executive Director - Click here to Read the Article

Check out this article from Chalkbeat - Executive Director, Dr. Vince Walsh-Rock quoted in the article.

Check out this link to view the ISCA Award Winners from 2020 and 2021. Receiving recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education is a significant step for school counselors in Illinois!