Shared Resources
District 428 and NIU have enjoyed a collegial relationship of long standing. Following is a sampling of current areas of collaboration:
Basic Subjects
- Reading readiness surveys and early intervention to assist in learning to read
- America Reads program and book clubs
- The Big Read - To Kill a Mockingbird activities in 2008
- ESL-bilingual school reorganization
- Bilingual tutoring by NIU students
- Grant-funded projects in mathematics, sciences, and the fine arts
Improvement of Teaching
- Professional Development Schools (PDS) at Wright and Chesebro
- Clinical observations by NIU students
- Student teaching by NIU students
- Credit and non-credit courses for District 428 educators
- Middle school training for teachers
- Master's cohorts in biology and elementary education
Special Services
- Pre-school screening programs
- Speech, hearing, and language disorders diagnosis and treatment
- Free services for hearing-impaired students
Technology
- High speed broadband network linking schools in DeKalb and Malta to Internet 2
- New telephone switch, resulting in lower costs and better security
- Hardware, software, and technology liaison at Malta Elementary
- Training for use of technology in classwork
- Training in use of student test data in the IIRC to improve student performance
Facilities and Equipment
- Sharing of athletic facilities for tennis, track and field, and other sports
Operations
- Affirmative action and diversity activities
- Joint purchasing to reduce costs
