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Illinois needs school system to recognize and inspire growth

By Gery Chico and Chris Koch
Posted: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 1:00 am

In Illinois, we believe strong standards can and do help our schools achieve. However, we need a system that also recognizes and encourages growth.

This year, the rigid benchmarks of the federal No Child Left Behind Act have deemed that only eight Illinois high schools made "adequate progress," while 656 failed. While no one questions the need for educational improvement in Illinois and the nation as a whole, this stark statistic does not paint a true picture of our schools, nor the progress many schools have made toward closing achievement gaps. In fact, aspects of the law have put ‘success' so far out of reach so as to be counterproductive - deterring administrators, teachers and children from making realistic advances in learning.

Earlier this fall, President Barack Obama announced his plans to allow states to apply for waivers from NCLB, also known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Increasing student achievement is Illinois' No. 1 educational priority, and, as such, our state intends to pursue a waiver from NCLB, allowing us to create our own accountability system. In the coming months, the State Board of Education will work with Gov. Pat Quinn and his administration on Illinois' proposal, with plans to submit early next year. We intend to enlist a diverse group of citizens to help us shape our request and develop the system that puts Illinois children first.

The best long-term economic development tool a state can have is a solid education system. Successful graduates attract business and jobs. The State Board of Education is committed to making Illinois' pre-K to 12th grade system the strongest in the nation. Developing our own stringent accountability system will allow our state to pursue objectives and accountability standards that will ensure our schools' progress, while also recognizing and encouraging advances in student learning.

In Illinois we have already embarked on the following initiatives to substantially strengthen our education system:

• Implementation of the Common Core State Standards, which are new, more rigorous learning standards to challenge students and educators alike to increase our global competitiveness;

• Development of new assessments based on these standards, which will be more rigorous, including using multiple measures and providing better data to teachers to drive instruction;

• Promotion and utilization of technology to drive student achievement;

• Development of a kindergarten survey to ensure our youngest learners are on track in the earliest grades;

• A statewide inter-agency partnership to provide better coordinated early childhood services and performance ratings;

• New, higher standards for teacher and principal recruitment and preparation, aimed at improving classroom instruction and educational leadership;

• Development of a new principal and teacher performance evaluation system that takes into account student academic growth;

• And a targeted, intensive effort to turn around our state's lowest achieving schools, which involves the provision of additional resources and oversight, while expecting significant gains for students and better possibilities for their futures.

It is within this context of positive change that we must design a new accountability program for our education system. Under NCLB, 65 percent of our schools and 80 percent of our districts are deemed failures, with little hope of climbing out from under the program's unrealistic performance targets.

Is there room for improvement in our schools? Of course - it is what our board and schools across the state work toward every day. At the same time, we do not believe a constant message of failure breeds the creative thinking and enthusiasm that creates success; it's not how you help children learn, so it stands to reason it is not the best tool for a school's success, either.

Illinois' accountability system needs to be balanced between encouragement and consequences, and opting out of NCLB will allow us to implement such a system.

The accountability system we envision will still expect continuous improvement and success from our students, schools and districts, but the goals we set will be both high and attainable. We need to create smart, nuanced tools to accurately measure the progress our schools make and also identify areas in which achievement gaps exist so they can be addressed. School districts and schools will have the ability to demonstrate improvement and success in differentiated, appropriate and measurable ways, so progress is based upon growth and lasting achievements.

Our waiver request will be based upon the goals of the governor and the state Board of Education to better prepare every Illinois student for college and career success. There is no question our schools can and must improve. As part of opting out of NCLB, our state will build an accountability system to raise the bar for all students and focus on closing achievement gaps. To truly help our children grow and prepare for the future, Illinois needs a common-sense accountability system, supported by our recent reforms, that not only tracks success and high academic performance, but also inspires it.

Gery Chico is the chairman of the Illinois Board of Education.

Chris Koch is the Illinois Superintendent of Education.

Can I be brief?

I know, I know...THAT is the question!

Chico and Koch are two big ostriches who finally realize that sticking their heads in the sand these past few years has left them grossly exposed...and that it's CYA time!

These two are in charge of the Illinois school system where 656 out of 664 schools have been labeled "failing". Somebody might point an accusatory finger of blame at them!

So...

...it's time to launch the PR machine!

Get out in front of this baby...spout some pompous words...chart a "new" lipstick-on-a-pig course that will eventually turn the spotlight back on our ever-unpopular national education scapegoat...the teachers!

As my guest ranter indicated...

...trying to fix an over-obsession with state testing and accountability with MORE is irrational.

It totally ignores the FACT: NCLB was fatally flawed from its inception. It cannot be fixed.

Signing up for Obama's NCLB on steroids will just make matters worse!

But...

...alas.

My guest ranter is correct on another point. These folks have decided on their (cover-up) plan and they will make it so.

Pity the Illinois State of Education...

And...

...this just in!

Prior to typing my remarks, I sent the link for The Southern op-ed piece to another member of the choir...one who tends toward the succinct.

I was not disappointed:

The response:

Why is it so hard to say let's just chuck the whole thing and start from scratch. And in the meantime everyone is off the hook, not just those who are willing to jump through a bunch more hoops. Am I missing something?

And, there you have it...three opinions for the price of one!