Education Resources

● School Districts ●
Rockford Public School District 205
View a listing of schools in Rockford Public School District 205. -
Harlem School District 122
View a listing of schools in Harlem School District 122. -
Boone County Public Schools
View a listing of public schools in Boone County. -
Winnebago County Public Schools outside Rockford/Harlem districts
View a listing of public schools in outlying areas of Winnebago County. -
Private/Parochial Schools
View a listing of private and parochial schools in Winnebago and Boone Counties. -
Boone/Winnebago Regional Office of Education
The Boone/Winnebago Regional Office of Education provides services to educators and school districts in Boone and Winnebago Counties in Northern Illinois, including credentialing and licensure.
  • 300 Heart Boulevard
    Loves Park, IL 61111
  • Phone: 815-636-3060
- http://www.4roe.org
● Early Childhood ●
City of Rockford Human Services Head Start Program
City of Rockford Head Start provides services to children ages birth to five years old and pregnant women. Program options include:
  • Center-based pre-school, part day and full day
  • Child care through local partners
  • Home-based services
Eligibility for Head Start services is based on family income. The program strives to maximize a child’s strengths and provide a rich environment by providing each child a variety of successful experiences. Family support services, information and referrals assist parents and caretakers in their efforts to meet the basic needs of all family members.
- Visit Rockford Head Start Web Site
Two Rivers Head Start Agency - Birth to Five
The Illinois Head Start Association (IHSA) was incorporated in 1978 to represent and provide services for all members of the Head Start community: directors, staff, parents, and friends. The Association is committed to enhancing the development of children, empowering families and strengthening communities. In the advocacy role, the Association speaks in a unified voice and acts on issues affecting children and families. It provides professional development opportunities for all members through conferences and institutes and awards training scholarships annually. Serves Boone, DeKalb, Grundy, Kane&Kendall Counties.
  • Phone: 630-406-1444
- http://www.ilheadstart.org/programs/60510.html
Rockford Public School District Early Childhood Program
  • 201 S. Madison Street
    Rockford, Illinois 61104
  • Phone: 815-227-8411
- http://www2.rps205.com/Schools/EC
Harlem School District Early Childhood Program
  • Donald Parker Center
    808 Harlem Blvd. Machesney Park, IL 61115
  • Phone: 815-654-4509
- Visit Harlem School District Early Ed Web Site
Belvidere School District Early Childhood Program
  • 1201 5th Ave.
    Belvidere, Illinois 61008
  • Phone: 815-544-0301
- http://www.district100.com
Illinois Early Learning Project ECAP/CEEP U of I at Urbana-Champaign
The Illinois Early Learning Project Web site is a source of evidence-based, reliable information on early care and education for parents, caregivers, and teachers of young children in Illinois. The Web site offers printable Tip Sheets for caregivers and parents in English, Spanish, and Polish; answers to Frequently Asked Questions; a customized question-answering service; a statewide calendar of events for parents and caregivers; an easy-to-use database of links to "the best of the Web" on topics related to early care and education; activities related to the Illinois Early Learning Standard Benchmarks; the Illinois Projects in Practice Web site; and periodic "Ask an Expert" events. The IEL Web site became publicly accessible in November 2001.
  • Children's Research Center
  • 51 Gerty Drive
    Champaign, IL 61820
- Visit Illinois Early Learning Project web site
● Special Education Resources ●
Special Education Resources
View a listing of Public School Special Education Departments. -
Child Find
Child Find is a component of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that requires states to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities, aged birth to 21, who are in need of early intervention or special education services. This Child Find web site is mainly focused on Part C of the IDEA, the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities. However, much of the information and many of the links listed on the Child Find web site can be useful in conducting child find for all young children, not just child find for infants and toddlers.
  • 100 N. 1st Street
    Springfield, IL 62777
- http://www.childfindidea.org/
● Higher Education ●
Rock Valley College
Offers GED classes, two-year associate degrees, transfer programs, vocational programs in a variety of fields and adult/continuing education.
  • 3301 N. Mulford Rd.
    Rockford, IL 61114
  • Phone: 815-921-7821
- http://www.rockvalleycollege.edu
Rockford College
  • 5050 E. State St.
    Rockford, IL 61108
  • Phone: 815-226-4000
- http://www.rockford.edu
Northern Illinois University
  • Rockford Campus
  • 8500 E. State St.
    Rockford, IL 61108
  • Phone: 815-332-7339

  • DeKalb Campus
  • 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy.
    DeKalb, IL 60115
  • Phone: 815-753-1000
University of Illinois Rockford
College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy
  • 1601 Parkview Ave.
    Rockford, IL 61107
  • Phone: 815-395-0600

● Other Resources ●
Rock River Training Corporation
Rock River Training Corporation provides opportunities for young people between ages 14-21 in Boone and Winnebago Counties to complete their education and train in areas that help build a foundation to enhance their future.
Youth Programs for in-school youth help youth stay in school by providing tutoring, counseling, mentoring, career exploration, work experiences, and overall support. The expectations of the workplace permeate the programs which, in cooperation with the youths' schools, prepare youth to enter additional education/training after high school and/or full-time jobs. Youth may be in a program from several years. Programs for youth who have dropped out of school emphasize the youth's return to school or obtaining a GED as a basic step on their road to self-sufficiency. Programs provide basic skills/GED instruction, tutoring, counseling, mentoring, career exploration, and work experience. The programs keep in contact with youth who leave the programs for at least a year.
  • 303 N. Main Street
    Rockford, IL 61103
  • Phone: 815-847-7574
- http://www.rockrivertraining.org/youth.htm
Illinois State Board of Education
The Illinois State Board of Education will provide leadership, assistance, resources and advocacy so  that every student is prepared to succeed in careers and postsecondary education, and share accountability for doing so with districts and schools.
  • 1661 Landmark Road
    Aurora, IL 60506
  • Phone: 866-262-6663
- http://isbe.net/
● Scholarship Web Sites ●
Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
The Community Foundation administers over 60 active scholarship funds on behalf of generous individuals, businesses, and service groups.  Scholarships are available for students completing high school who are pursuing the challenge and benefits of higher education, current college students, and non-traditional students seeking to return to school.  Scholarship funds are limited to 1) accredited institutions and 2) private non-profit or publicly supported institutions. Review the criteria below to see which scholarships you are a good fit for you.
  • 946 N. 2nd Street
    Rockford, IL 61107
  • Phone: 815-962-2110
- http://cfnil.org/Scholarships/scholarships.asp
City of Rockford Human Services Department - Community Services Division
This division sponsors a competitive scholarship opportunity for qualified students for post secondary education. Applicants must have household income below 125% of the federal poverty level, reside in Winnebago or Boone County, and plan on attending a post secondary accredited school or training program located in the state of Illinois. There is no age requirement. Applications are usually released in January through media announcement and then available at our location and on our website with deadline for return in March. Call for more details as programming, qualifications, and funding availability may change.
Rockford office:
  • 555 N. Court Street, Suite 301
    Rockford, IL 61103

Belvidere office:
  • Alerta
    130 N. State St.
    Belvidere, IL 61008

Mailing address:
  • 612 N. Church St.
    Rockford, IL 61103
  • Phone: 815-987-5711
- http://www.rockfordil.gov/human-services.aspx
collegescholarships.org
Illinois has scholarships and grants to suit just about every type of student. If you are a nurse, medical student or teacher, there are a number of attractive incentive programs designed to keep you studying and working within the state. - http://www.collegescholarships.org/states/illinois.htm
enotes.com
- http://www.enotes.com/scholarships-loans/IL
Online Education Database
- http://oedb.org/scholarship/illinois
Special Education Scholarships
There are a variety of scholarship awards for students majoring in special education, including the Department of Special Education scholarship awards, the College of Education scholarship awards program, and State of Illinois and federal scholarships, grants, and awards. - http://www.specialeducation.ilstu.edu/scholarships/
● Other Web Site Resources ●
Illinois Parents
- http://www.illinoisparents.org/ipindex.htm
Illinois StarNet
Illinois StarNet provides a variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth for those who touch the lives of young children, ages birth through eight, with an emphasis on children with special needs. STARNET supports family-centered - http://starnet.org
Community College Initiative
The purpose of the Community College Initiative (CCI) is to encourage people with disabilities to pursue college training that will enhance skills and provide for greater employment opportunities. DRS believes that up to 1,500 individuals may benefit from the initiative through the end of the ARRA funding in September 2011.
  • 107 N. 3rd Street
    Rockford, IL 61107
  • Phone: 815-987-4964
- http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=51686
Community Colleges - Illinois
This link is to a listing of Illinois Community Colleges. - http://www.50states.com/cc/illinois.htm
● GED Classes ●
Apply at the Boone/Winnebago Regional Office of Education. Applications accepted M-F from 8am-3:30 pm. $50 application fee is valid for one year.
  • 300 Heart Boulevard
    Loves Park, IL 61111
  • Phone: 815-636-3060
  • Fax: 815-636-3069

Preparation courses for taking the GED tests are not required, but are recommended. Schools offering GED courses are:

Rock Valley College Adult Education: 815-921-2001
Roosevelt Community Ed. Center: 815-966-3251
Regional Learning Center: 815-316-8450
ARK in Belvidere: 815-544-3315
Rockford Career College: 815-967-7315 - http://www.4roe.org/GEDinfo.htm