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100 Schools Receive Academic Recognition

Springfield, Ill.-A total of 100 Illinois public schools received recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education for academic improvement. The schools selected from the more than 4200 statewide have data which shows improvement in their student scores over three years of test assessments. Schools showing the most improvement totaled 27.

“More often than not people talk about our schools failing, and time and time again I have said that they are not,” State Superintendent Robert Schiller said. “As demands to meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind Act increase, it is gratifying for us to recognize those schools that are not only meeting requirements, but are definitely showing trends in improvement.”

Partnering with Northern Illinois University, a data search identified schools where students have made consistent academic improvement while meeting Adequate Yearly Progress. Recognizing these schools is part of the No Child Left Behind requirements. The State Board of Education approved the recognition criteria during its monthly meeting in April.

To receive an Academic Improvement Award, the schools must:

• Have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in 2003, and
• Their state test results show an upward trend, and
• The school showed at least 7.5% improvement in scores between 2002 and 2003, or
  
• There was at least 15% improvement in scores between 2001 and 2003.

The 7.5% improvement increments were selected to match the projected increase in annual academic performance targets under No Child Left Behind beginning in 2005.

“It is gratifying to note that the schools did not represent one type of school or demographic,”said Schiller. “They come from the city and rural areas, suburban, north and south, which indicates to me that any school can make similar strides.”

The program is an extension of the Spotlight Schools honored last fall. Spotlight Schools are public schools that achieved high academic performance in an environment where a majority of students’ come from low-income families.

The schools were recognized at events in Mt. Vernon, Chicago and Springfield. The Chicago and Mt. Vernon events were held earlier this week.

The schools recognized at three events are listed below. Those identified with an asterisk (*) were recognized as the most improved. More information (address, contact) can be obtained by clicking on each school.

For more on the Northern lllinois University program and process visit: www.p20.niu.edu/P20/acadimproveawards/index.shtml