Illinois School Leaders Envision More Useful State Tests, Fewer Burdensome Mandates by 2030
A new report calls for making state standardized tests more useful for teachers and students and for the state to help school districts pay to repair and renovate school buildings, among other sweeping recommendations.
Vision 2030: A Roadmap for Education in Illinois
Officials from several state education associations, including the Illinois Association of School Boards and the Illinois Association of Principals, came together to develop Vision 2030. This report tackles four areas: keeping students safe, getting high-quality educators into the classroom, enhancing postsecondary success, and improving how the state evaluates schools.
Keeping Students Safe and School Buildings in Good Condition
The report recommends that the state continue pumping an additional $350 million into the “evidence-based” funding formula, as it has since 2018. This would provide school districts with more predictable funding for building repairs and renovations, said Kristopher Monn, executive director of the Illinois Association of Business Officials.
Monn noted that the state has not made significant investments in establishing equitable statewide funding for capital and safety needs, and some of the report’s suggestions include increasing access to state maintenance grants and exploring a statewide sales tax, similar to some county sales taxes.
Streamlining Assessments and School Ratings
The report calls for changes to the state’s assessment and school rating system. Currently, students take one set of tests at the end of the year, and ratings, such as exemplary or commendable, are based heavily on the results of those exams. However, the delay in getting the scores “really impacts the utility of those results and makes it difficult for us to make any real, quality decisions about improving our schools and the potential outcomes for our kids,” said Jason Leahy, executive director of the Illinois Principals Association.
The report suggests that teachers should receive the results more quickly, perhaps in real-time, even if they are preliminary. Leahy also wants to see more flexibility in school ratings, so they are not weighted so heavily on test results and can factor in other features that communities believe are important.
Updating State Standards and Reducing Mandates
The report notes that the state standards used to determine if students are proficient in reading and math are some of the highest in the nation. Leahy emphasized the importance of aligning these standards with national norms, as a parent and an educator.
The education leaders also recommend streamlining state mandates, which have doubled in size since 2000. Leahy noted that every new mandate takes away from something else the school district is focused on or paying for, so lawmakers need to be careful.
Conclusion
Vision 2030 provides a roadmap for education in Illinois, with a focus on making state tests more useful, reducing burdensome mandates, and improving school funding. By addressing these key areas, educators hope to create a better educational system for students and teachers alike.
FAQs
Q: What is Vision 2030?
A: Vision 2030 is a report developed by officials from several state education associations, outlining recommendations for education in Illinois.
Q: What are the main areas of focus for Vision 2030?
A: The report tackles four areas: keeping students safe, getting high-quality educators into the classroom, enhancing postsecondary success, and improving how the state evaluates schools.
Q: What are the recommendations for school funding?
A: The report recommends continuing to pump an additional $350 million into the “evidence-based” funding formula, as well as increasing access to state maintenance grants and exploring a statewide sales tax.
Q: What changes are being proposed for state assessments and school ratings?
A: The report calls for teachers to receive test results more quickly, perhaps in real-time, and for school ratings to be more flexible, factoring in other features that communities believe are important, rather than being weighted heavily on test results.
