Painted Ladies are Back

Among the rites of spring are West 40's Painted Lady butterflies

West 40 has offered this hands-on learning project to Western Cook County schools each spring since 1989. Painted Lady butterfly kits allow children to experience the wonder of butterfly development first hand. Each kit contains three to five tiny caterpillars in a sealed vial complete with nutrients. In about three weeks, the caterpillars mature to become the lovely Painted Lady butterflies. Each kit costs $13.95. At least three perfect Painted Lady butterflies per kit are guaranteed by the supplier.

West 40 will mail order forms to public and private schools in its region toward the end of March. Orders are due Friday, April 18, and pick up will be at West 40's offices on Thursday, May 1. Teachers can also purchase activity units for an additional $3.oo per packet. Each packet contains 1225 age-appropriate activities. On the order form, teachers must indicate the appropriate grade level for their activity units.

Teachers can begin to prepare for the event by saving empty copier paper boxes. These boxes can be used to build a flight cage which is necessary for observation. Instructions on how to build a flight cage will be included with the orders.

For further information on the Painted Lady butterfly kits, please call Mirtha Medina at West 40: 708/447-6070.

ISBE Recommends Changes in Assessment Systems

The Illinois State Board of Education has recommended changes to the Illinois General Assembly to increase the effectiveness of state assessment tests. The ISBE report responds to pending legislative changes to the IGAP assessment testing with specific recommendations for improvement.

Because different types of assessments provide different types of data to satisfy the needs and expectations of various constituent groups, the ISBE has proposed a system comprised of state and local assessments that measure state standards and use of national and international assessments benchmarked against world standards.

The ISBE's main recommendations for action are to:

• Align the IGAP with Illinois Academic Standards
• Build the capacity of local schools by supporting regional consortia to advance teaching and learning through the integration of curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development
• Compare Illinois standards and student assessments to national and international benchmarks
• Establish consequences for schools with poor or significantly declining per~ formance on the IGAP by creating an Academic Early Warning System/Watch List
• Establish consequences for student performance through the Prairie State Achievement Exam

LIC Corner

Research has shown that the first few years of life are critical for a child's development. Early intervention is now an entitlement program in Illinois. West Cook has a toll-free resource and referral line for families with young children (ages birth to five). Families who have concerns about their child's development should call the referral line at 1-888KONTACT. This call is often a family's first step in accessing the early intervention system.

The West Cook Local Interagency Council (LIC) consists of parents and professionals involved in early childhood intervention. Meetings are usually held once a month. We'd like your input; please join us. For further information, call LIC Coordinator Sarah Urycki at 708/447-6070.