Illinois Birth-to-Third (B3) Grade Continuity Conference

June 14-15, 2017

Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, Normal IL

Sustained and aligned early childhood programs, birth through third grade (B-3), have the potential to be an educational game-changer. To support this work, the Illinois Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD), the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and the Center for the Study of Education Policy (CSEP), is pleased to announce an opportunity for community and school leaders to participate in the Illinois Birth Through Third Grade (B-3) Continuity Conference.

The Illinois Birth-to-Third (B3) Continuity Project is hosting its third annual conference. The B3 Conference is open to school districts and community leaders working towards birth-to-third grade alignment strategies in their community. Communities are encouraged to come as teams with representatives from early childhood, K-12 schools, and the broader community. Entities holding Preschool Expansion Grants and Preschool for All Expansion Grants should be included within applying communities.

Conference Themes: This conference is collaboratively planned by CSEP, ISBE and OECD to build the capacity of early childhood and elementary education staff to provide informed leadership about research-based practices to develop an effective system of supports and services for children birth through third grade.

Expand knowledge of developmentally appropriate educational practices across the birth through third grade continuum with a focus on sustainable and cost-effective implementation that involves leveraging resources among schools and the community to build a continuum of high-quality early learning environments.
Enhance their understanding of the structures, practices and supports needed to increase alignmentwithin and across communities and school districts to best support children and families, including family engagement that continues into the early grades, supported transitions, data-driven improvement, joint professional development, curriculum and instruction, assessments, comprehensive services and community partnerships.
Identify technical assistance needs and resources to enhance their community’s capacity and to prepare and support children and families from birth through third grade.
Learn from national experts and colleagues in an inclusive and dynamic forum to network, share information and build skills.

Conference Materials

Agenda

Wednesday, June 14^th

10:00 am	Registration
10:30 am	Welcome & Opening Remarks
10:45 am	Birth Through Third Grade (B-3) Alignment in Illinois
11:15 am	Guided Community Collaborative Time
12:15 pm	Lunch on Your Own
1:30 pm	Break-Out Sessions Addressing Students Behavioral and Mental Health Meeting the Needs of Dual Language Learners More than an MOU: Finding & helping more Homeless Children
2:30 pm	Break
2:45 pm	Keynote: Partner for Resilience Project
3:30 pm	Connecting with those like you – Break-Out Sessions
4:30 pm	Break
4:45 pm	Happy Hour
6:00 pm	Dinner on Your Own

Thursday June 15^th

8:30 am	Welcome & B-3 Resources
8:45 am	Break-Out Sessions ECC – MTSS – Early Childhood Special Education Erikson - Early Developmental Instrument (EDI) Data Best Practices - Data Dashboards
9:45 am	Break
10:00 am	Break-Out Sessions Kindergarten Readiness, Standards-based Reporting All Day Play-Based Teaching & Instruction Essential Leadership Drivers for B-3 Learning Communities
10:45 am	Break
11:00 am	Break-Out Sessions What’s Needed in a Quality Preschool Program for Student Success? School and Programs Ready for Children & Families Illinois Preschool Expansion Model & Lessons in Preschool to Kindergarten Transitions Transitions Example
11:45 am	Lunch on Your Own
1:00 pm	Self-Assessment, Community Debrief Session
2:15 pm	Keynote: The ESSA State Plan: What do you need to know?
3:30 pm	Closing Remarks

Conference Costs: There are no fees for attending the conference, but participants are responsible for their own up-front travel costs and meals (no meals are provided by the conference). A block of rooms at discounted rates has been reserved at the Marriott, Holiday Inn, and Hampton hotels in Normal, IL. The room block is under the "B3 Conference". Participants will need to book and pay for room on their own; however, for existing Expansion Communities hotel costs are eligible for reimbursement after receipts and appropriate, provided forms are handed in.

Team Stakeholder Examples: Districts or communities are encouraged to bring a team of 2-5 stakeholders to the Conference. Communities that are working with multiple districts may bring a team composed of educators and community members representing the community work as a whole. Examples of appropriate team members include: superintendent/assistant superintendent, school board member, elementary principal, kindergarten and PreK-teachers, child care center directors, Head Start director, Early Childhood coordinator, Community Schools Resource Coordinator, Innovation Zone Coordinator, Before/After School partners, community-based partner(s), municipal staff, United Way staff.