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Back on June 22, 2021, Google revealed a roadmap of its upcoming product and software updates during its The Anywhere School online event. That roadmap featured a cornucopia of exciting developments, including useful enhancements for Google Classroom, Google Workspace for Education, Chrome OS, and more. Check out our update digest to learn about how your classroom can utilize these fresh upgrades during the upcoming school year.

Happy New (Fiscal) Year! Despite SOPPA compliance day arriving on July 1, numerous schools throughout the state are still in the process of getting their new data privacy frameworks up and running. ISPA is still here to support your efforts. Check out this month’s update summary to learn more!

Copyright, fair use, public domain – these are all terms that may sound familiar to you as an educator. But do you fully understand their impact on how you share physical and digital resources with your students and colleagues? Our guide to navigating copyright in the education sphere can bring you up to speed on this important legal topic.

With summer starting, now is a great time for all educators to perform a mental health check-in. Along the way, you should also consider adding new self-care routines to your life, both now and for the next school year. Check out this guide to learn more about self-care and the many ways it can help bring balance to your personal and professional life.

The Learning Technology Center of Illinois is proud to announce that it has been awarded the State Achievement Award for Professional Learning by the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA). This award recognizes the LTC’s ongoing efforts to serve all Illinois schools and educators as part of its Professional Learning Statewide System of Support.

The future of edtech is here. Now’s your chance to harness technology’s renewed classroom potential by learning from and networking with your peers at IETC 2021. Register today to take advantage of early bird pricing!

This summer, Illinois’ new SOPPA amendments will come into force, requiring districts to meet new standards for managing and protecting student data. But what role will teachers play in this process? Learn more in this timely guide!

On May 11, 2021, the FCC announced a finalized rule set for the administration of the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), a $7.1 billion appropriation derived from the larger $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan stimulus package passed in March 2021. Learn more about the ECF, its eligibility requirements, and its E-Rate application process in this new program brief.

Starting May 12, 2021, eligible households can apply to receive up to $50 off their monthly home internet bill through the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. Read on to learn about how schools and district can utilize this program to increase at-home internet access for their students.

The 28th annual Illinois Education and Technology Conference (IETC) is on its way, bringing with it an immersive hybrid experience geared toward the professional learning needs of all educators, IT staff, and administrators. Make 2021 the year you share your voice by submitting a proposal for IETC!

Many schools in Illinois and around the US are interested in purchasing new Chromebooks. But which Chromebook model is best? Which model offers the best value? You’ll find answers and more in this guide to choosing the right Chromebook for your school or district.

The Illinois State Board of Education opened the window for this year’s teacher license renewal cycle on April 1, 2021. Check out our guide full of important reminders and resources geared toward helping you renew your teaching license in no time.

Big news! The Digital Literacy Conference agenda has just been released! In it, you’ll find an assortment of engaging sessions on many of the most important aspects of digital literacy. Check out these session previews now and make plans to attend this unique professional learning opportunity!

This year, Google is premiering a brand-new certification that is geared toward helping schools and districts build and sustain their edtech integration over the long-term. Check out this guide to learn more about the Google Certified Coach program, including its benefits for tech coaches and school districts alike.

Recently, Google announced a variety of updates for its suite of education-centered apps and services, including new functionality and accessibility features for Google Classroom and Google Meet. Check out our update digest to learn about Google Workspace for Education, its new pricing structure, and more.

Digital literacy has been on the tip of the tongue for many educators recently. This summer’s Digital Literacy Conference will help further that discourse and help educators chart a course for teaching digital literacy in their own classroom. Learn more about what #DigLitCon has to offer every educator, including a sneak preview of two popular sessions.

The 21-22 E-Rate Form 471 filing deadline is just around the corner on March 25, 2021. Don’t miss these important E-Rate program updates as you put the final touches on your institution’s submission.

All February, the LTC team has been hard at work creating new resources to support district-level compliance with SOPPA. Collected here are all of the latest resources provided to ISPA members over the course of the month.

Exciting news! The Digital Literacy Conference is now open for registration. This one-day gathering of educators from around Illinois will offer teachers, administrators, library media specialists, and more an opportunity to engage with one of education’s most relevant topics – digital literacy – in all of its forms.

The nature of digital learning has changed a lot over the past year. To celebrate Digital Learning Day 2021, we spoke to education stakeholders across Illinois and heard their perspectives on digital learning – both now and in the future.

The Illinois Learning Technology Purchasing Program (ILTPP) has announced several updates to two of their most popular contracts. These updates will help your school or district blossom into new learning opportunities this spring and budget more effectively for the 21-22 school year.