Regional Office expands education pathways and early-childhood resources amid federal funding uncertainty

Chris Tennison, a Regional Office of Education official, told the committee the office expanded career and technical education pathways from four districts to 16 districts and now supports pathways in education, health sciences, manufacturing and agriculture, with plans to add an IT pathway next year. Tennison said the education pathway graduation numbers have grown substantially, citing a recent ceremony where 41 students received education endorsements.

Tennison said federal funding cuts have affected regional offices in two primary areas: state funding for social-emotional work and money for instructional coaches in math and English has been frozen. He said the office cross-trains staff across grants and has managed staffing so the freeze has not led to job losses in the local office. Tennison said he and staff recently presented their practices to other regional superintendents in Springfield.

Tennison described the OWL (Ogle, Whiteside, Lee) early-childhood resource hub developed with Birth to 5 Illinois and said the ROE hosts the website and Facebook page while Birth to 5 Illinois approves content. He also discussed a pilot student-mentor program in Amboy that placed ROE employees in schools; Tennison said mentors worked with about 27 students each and reported fewer discipline referrals, improved attendance and better grades. The program is expected to expand to five additional schools, with mentors reimbursed through state funding under the EBF formula.

Tennison said the state has sued the federal government over grant payments and that a court injunction was reported in the meeting; he said the office has not yet received new guidance from the state but expected an update later in the week. He asked for no questions before leaving the meeting.