January 2001

• January 31 -- State of the State a Record of Accomplishment, Aggressive Plan for the Future
• January 29 -- Governor Awards School Maintenance Grants
• January 25 -- Illinois Joins National Science Teacher Initiative
• January 23 -- Bush Education Program Supports State Efforts
• January 18 -- Administrators' Academy Changes Aim to Better Education
• January 12 -- State Board to Consider Changes to School Waiver Law
• January 8 -- Tenth-annual Business-Education conference honors 15 outstanding partnerships, education and business leaders
  

February 2001

• February 21 -- Comment welcome on special education certification rules
• February 21 -- Budget Again Shows Governor’s Commitment to Schools: McGee
• February 1 -- Groundhog Job Shadow Day kicks off Career Development Month
  

March 2001

• March 30 -- Induction Conference Focuses on Transition
• March 29 -- Comment period extended April 13, 2001 - Draft Standards for Future Middle Grade Teachers, School Service Personnel, & Special Education Directors
• March 28 -- ISBE Education Priorities Update
• March 26 -- McGee Asks Families to Help Prepare Students for ISAT Testing
• March 23 -- Illinois teacher prep institutions release “pass rates” today
• March 23 -- Special conference aimed at disabled students, adults, families, practitioners
• March 22 -- State Board of Education OK’s Keller principal program
• March 22 -- Prestigious teacher program successful, reaching critical juncture
• March 21 -- Board continues work on new designation system
• March 21 -- Annual Financial Watch List Released
• March 20 -- ISBE considers changes in PE waiver process, emphasizes meeting Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health
• March 2 -- ISBE Education Priorities Update
• March 2 -- Superintendent invites public to bring education questions, suggestions to Kewanee schoolhouse meeting
  

April 2001

• April 30 -- Illinois’ first-in-the-nation test goes smoothly
• April 23 -- All Eleventh Graders Take First-ever Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) 
• April 19 -- ISBE Education Priorities Update
• April 19 -- ISBE to submit waiver report to the General Assembly
• April 4 -- Illinois TIMSS scores support Learning Standards
  

May 2001

• May 31 -- Legislators, Governor praised for school budget
• May 24 -- Nine Illinois public schools honored with national Blue Ribbon award
• May 21 -- Student Advisory Council: “Ask us about school violence”
• May 18 -- State Board approves UIC-Golden Apple alternative teacher certification program
• May 18 -- ISBE Education Priorities Update
• May 15 -- Future teachers get certificates in days, not weeks
• May 8 -- Veteran Chicago teacher named to national Hall of Fame
• May 8 -- New Deputy for Special Education Announced
  

June 2001

• June 29 -- Illinois schools named National Service-Learning Leaders
• June 22 -- State Board Makes Appointments to Teacher Certification Board
• June 19 -- State Board slates meeting/work conference in Oak Brook
• June 18 -- Scientific Literacy Grants awarded
• June 4 -- Five teachers win Christa McAuliffe awards
  

July 2001

• July 26 -- McGee Invited to White House Conference on Early Childhood
• July 11 -- State Board Discusses Cut-scores for Prairie State Achievement Examination
  

August 2001

• August 29 -- McGee Won't Seek Extension of Contract
• August 28 -- Illinois Students Show Great Improvement -- Again -- on SAT Test
• August 23 -- State Board approves enhanced basic skills test for future teachers
• August 23 -- Public comment sought on special ed rules for all teachers
• August 15 -- ACT Increases for Illinois Graduates
• August 2 -- Governor Ryan Announces Further Evidence Calling for Annual Testing for Students
  

September 2001

• September 25 -- State honors 5 educators who 'Break the Mold'
• September 21 -- Report: Schools Show Signs of Progress on Adopting Standards
• September 18 -- 450 School Districts to Receive Closing the Gap Technology Grants
• September 10 -- Students from Galesburg and Danville will co-chair State Board's Student Advisory Council
• September 6 -- More than half of juniors meet standards on first Prairie State Achievement Exam
• September 5 -- Technology Literacy Challenge Fund Grant Recipients Selected
• September 4 -- Year-3 ISAT scores up; achievement gap continues
  

October 2001

• October 18 -- State Board Approves Vision, Mission, Goals Statement
• October 18 -- State Board Moving Forward with Transition to New Superintendent
• October 17 -- State Board to Issue Academic Early Warning List
• October 17 -- ISAT Arts, PE Receive Performance Levels
• October 15 -- Reading Teacher Receives $25,000 National Milken Educator Award
• October 1 -- Certificate Renewal Tracking System (CERTS) Now Available Online
• October 9 -- Bradley principal to receive $25,000 national Milken teaching award
• October 1 -- Public forums on special education to be held
  

November 2001

• November 30 -- Governor Ryan Hails Increase in Nationally Certified Teachers Presents Education Summit Recommendations
• November 21 -- State Board Gives Designation System the Green Light
• November 20 -- Illinois NAEP Science Results Parallel National Performance
• November 15 -- Prairie State Achievement Examination opened opportunities for students: McGee
• November 15 -- State Board Appoints New Superintendent
• November 14 -- Academic Early Warning List’s Higher Numbers Reflect Raised Bar
• November 6 -- Early Learning Web Site Puts Preschool Teaching Advice and Materials Online
  
  

December 2001

• December 13 -- McGee Will Conduct "Achievement Gap" Research at NIU When Term as State Superintendent Ends
• December 12 -- Illinois Technology Plan Targets Opportunity in the Classroom
• December 4 -- McGee Accepts Position as Superintendent in Wilmette District 39 Five Year Contract Begins July 1, 2002