Information for the 2026-2027 School Year

Dear SD194 Families,

As we prepare to welcome students back for the 2026-2027 school year, we want to share some information to help in your planning and answer some questions you may have. This is a long message but there is a lot of valuable information.  

Class Placements and Schedules 

Class placements for SPC and SIC and course schedules for Columbia Central will be available on Tuesday August 11. Only fully registered and approved students will have a class placement or a course schedule. 

If you have not registered yet, please complete the registration process as soon as possible.  You can access our enrollment form at this link.  

All students new to the district must prove residency. Returning students may also be asked to provide residency verification as needed. Please note, that any student, new or returning, that registers after August 1, will be required to provide verification of residency. 

School Supplies Provided by SD194 

As a reminder, SD194 will be providing basic school supplies for all students for the 2026-2027 school year. Families no longer need to purchase items from a traditional school supply list. Our hope is that this initiative helps reduce costs for our families, and ensures every student begins the year with the materials they need.

Transportation Information

As a reminder from my message last week, this school year many families will benefit from expanded transportation services as a result of the Board of Education's comprehensive review of student transportation. Final bus routes, stop locations, and pick-up and drop-off times are currently being finalized and will be communicated to families in August.

Before & After School Care – Ivy League Kids

We are excited to announce that Steger School District 194 is partnering with Ivy League Kids to provide parents an on-site option for before and after-school care for the 2026–2027 school year at Steger Primary Center and Steger Intermediate Center.

Ivy League Kids offers a safe, engaging environment where students can participate in academic enrichment, fun activities, and quality childcare designed to support the needs of working families.

To learn more about the program, please review the Ivy League Kids Welcome Letter by clicking here. 

Registration, program information, and pricing are available directly on the Ivy League Kids website. If you have specific questions about the program, enrollment, or billing, please contact Ivy League Kids directly at ivyleaguekids.org or their main office at 815-464-1265. 

Parent Information Sessions and Curriculum Nights 

For many years, families have attended a traditional Open House before school began to drop off supplies and briefly meet their child's teacher. This year, because SD194 is providing school supplies for all students, we've reimagined that experience to make it even more valuable for families.

Instead of a quick meet-and-greet before the first day of school, our elementary and middle schools will host Curriculum Nights shortly after the school year begins. By waiting until students have been in class for a bit, teachers will already know your child, understand the dynamics of their classroom, and be able to share meaningful information about learning expectations, classroom routines, and how families can support student success at home.

These evenings are designed to be much more than an open house, they are an opportunity to build a stronger partnership between home and school.

That said, we also recognize that some important information simply can't wait until September, particularly if you are brand new to school. Before school begins, we'll continue to host several Parent Information Nights for families entering new grade levels or schools. These sessions focus on helping families prepare for the year ahead, including topics such as school procedures, expectations, transitions, and other grade-level information. For our 8th grade families, this evening will include important information about 8th grade trips, events, and graduation.

For K-4 families, dismissal car tags will be distributed on these evenings to anyone who will be picking their student up after school. If you will be picking your student up, car tags are required for dismissal each day, and must be picked up prior to the first day of school. 

The Back to School Guide at this link lists all of our information sessions and curriculum nights, including times. 

We look forward to welcoming our students and families back next month.  We are excited to begin another outstanding school year together. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we'll make the 2026-2027 school year a great one for every student.

Sincerely, 

Dr. Anthony McConnell 

Superintendent