Kankakee School District 111

August 5, 2025

Dear Kankakee Students and Families,

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! I am honored to begin my second year as Superintendent of Kankakee School District 111, and I remain deeply committed to serving all of our students across grades PK through 12. Whether your child is stepping into their very first classroom in Pre-K or walking into their final year of high school, I want to personally welcome you to what we believe will be an amazing school year!

Last year, we laid important groundwork together by strengthening connections between school and home, focusing on academic growth, and listening closely to what our families and students need. This year, we’re building on that momentum and in the coming months you will hear more about the work ahead. For now, however, please know that we will continue to create safe, welcoming schools where every student scholar can and will thrive.

As we begin this new year, I want to share a few important reminders and updates:

• School Uniform: School uniforms will remain required for students in grades K–8. However, students in grades 9–12 will no longer be required to wear uniforms. Instead, high school students will follow a clear and respectful dress code that supports self-expression while maintaining a positive and distraction-free learning environment. 
• New In-Person Registration Process: We have launched an in-person registration process to ensure we have up-to-date, accurate information for every student. Please be reminded that proof of immunizations is required for students entering Kindergarten, 6th grade, 9th grade, and 12th grade. This step is critical to keeping all our students healthy and in school. If you are unable to register your child prior to the first day of school, we will offer a centralized registration location from August 20th through August 22nd. However, we encourage you to take advantage of registration hours now. 
• On-Time Start for Grades K–6: This year, on-time arrival is a priority. Students in grades K–6 must arrive at school on time each day, ready to learn. We will no longer offer a soft start; therefore, students should plan to arrive no later than 8:50am for breakfast and instruction beginning promptly at 9:00am. We believe every minute counts, and we appreciate your partnership in helping your child start the day strong.
• New Communication Platform: To streamline communication and create a more consistent experience for you, we are transitioning to ParentSquare as our new, districtwide communication platform. Because this will be a slow rollout during the 2025–2026 school year, you may still see other platforms in use for now, however, ParentSquare will gradually become the primary communication tool for all schools beginning January 2026. If you have any questions about Parent Square and to ensure we have your most up to date contact information, please reach out to your child’s school.
• New Website Design: Beginning mid to late October, we plan to roll out a new district website that is both modernized and user friendly.
• Curriculum Audit: This past spring, we began the first phase of curriculum audit. Beginning next month, we will move into phase two, which will allow our families to provide input into your child’s academic experiences with us. Please be on the lookout for more information regarding parent and family focus groups that we anticipate beginning the week of September 22, 2025

In the coming weeks, we look forward to reconnecting with returning students and welcoming new ones into the Kankakee School District family. Remember, school begins on Wednesday, August 20th for students in grades K-12 and August 25th for students entering Pre-K. Please continue to check our website and social media pages for updates, school supply lists, and back-to-school events.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. This year holds so much promise, and we are honored to be on this journey with you. 

With gratitude,
Dr. Teresa A. Lance, Superintendent