ISBE Education Priorities Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 16, 2000

Chicago – Illinois State Board of Education staff in the last month made good progress to address the State Board’s five education priorities of Standards/Assessment/Accountability; High Quality Educators; Reading and Mathematics; Early Learning (Birth to 8); and Schools in Academic Difficulty.

Here are a few highlights of some of the work done in the last month. The complete Board Priority Report is available through the State Board’s Communications division. State Board staff is also working to make the report available on the web, at www.isbe.net under “Calendars and Meetings.”

Standards/Assessment/Accountability:

• Eleven external Quality Assurance reviews completed. Staff focusing on schools “on the border” between 50 percent meets standards or directly below.
• Summer Bridges final report completed. Over 80 percent of districts reported that 60 percent or more students showed improvement.
• A “Profile of Illinois Public Schools” completed. Summarizes important data from the 2000 report card.
• Information disseminated outlining options for administering the PSAE.

Early Learning Initiative (Birth through 8):

• Trained 700 early education teachers (pre-kindergarten, early childhood special education, Head Start, Child Care, etc.) on the Early Learning Standards in 11 sessions statewide. Scheduled more trainings to meet high demand.
• At the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children conference, conducted a pre-conference symposium for 250 teachers on such topics as transitions, inclusion, early learning standards, birth to three standards and Illinois READS.

Reading and Mathematics:

• About 98 percent of Reading Kits distributed to principals and teachers outside of Chicago. All Chicago principals have been trained on the use of the Reading Kits, which are being delivered citywide.
• 50,000 copies of a new brochure, “Ten Tips for Families Reading Together,” printed and will be distributed through the Illinois Resource Center to preschool centers and programs.
• Finalized contracts with Regional Offices of Education and Intermediate Service Centers to deliver mathematics trainings to 500 teachers throughout the remaining school year.
• Met with more than 100 teachers and students to discuss including the Illinois Learning Standards in mathematics courses for pre-service teachers at University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.

Schools in Academic Difficulty:

• Continued support to additional 14 districts in district-level system of support.
• Completed interviews and portfolio assessments for Educators in Residence for 2001-02.
• Completed arrangements for November 30 Legislative Literacy Celebration. Over 250 students scheduled to participate.

Quality Educators:

• “Summary Guide for Certificate Renewal” completed, published and in the process of being sent to every school building statewide.
• Local Professional Development Committee training video and accompanying materials completed.
• Issued 1,828 new teaching certificates, 327 deficiency statements and exchanged 1,553 certificates. Still receiving more than 1,000 phone calls weekly in Professional Certification.
• Reduced the number of pending applications (580) to its lowest level ever.