Link to Original Story

Over $100 Million in Federal Funding Working to Improve Illinois High Schools

By Stephanie Tyrpak
By Mike Kaan

Egyptian High School is undergoing a transformation.

"Transformation" is one of the four strategies schools have to use to receive the federal State Improvement Grant funding.

On Tuesday, state education leaders toured the high school near Tamms to see how the federal grant is working.

"This is one case where size should be an asset," said Gery Chico. "The smallness of this school should allow us to move quickly and see very quickly what's working."

Two years into the three year School Improvement Grant, Illinois State Board of Education Chairman Gery Chico is touring the state and taking advice from staff, parents, and students.

Egyptian High School near Tamms is using $4.4 million dollars out of $108 million in funding for Illinois - a huge help to the 140 students in a widespread district without a centralized town.

"With our geographical location and the rural poverty that we have in this area, students sometimes don't have an understanding of what is available to them after high school," said high school principal Charles Doty.

The grant has been used to provide advanced education to faculty.

"Start to work on curriculum issues and pacing issues," said Doty. "We're learning to analyze data better."

Students benefit from upgrades to classrooms and internet technology.

"Been able to refurbish our labs in our science classes and done a makeover on the facility our library," said Doty.

Test scores for Egyptian students are improving with 44% of Juniors at grade level on the state's standardized test last year, the highest it's been in several years.

The staff and students have made a goal for at least 66% on this year's test.

"They're spending more time on certain subjects, which is good," said Chico. "Doing more test preparation."

The state board of education is watching to see how Egyptian and other grant schools make changes - changes that could one day improve education across Illinois.