SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education today released 2011 State Assessment data, showing a growing number of schools are identified for improvement under the federal accountability law, No Child Left Behind. Results show 695 or 80 percent of Illinois districts and 2,548 or 65 percent of schools, up from 51 percent last year, failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under NCLB. In total, only 8 high schools in the state made AYP based on test results in 2011.

The results were announced as part of the State Board’s statewide analysis of the 2011 State Report Card and more than a month after the U.S. Department of Education announced it would consider granting NCLB waivers to states that agree to certain reform provisions such as adopting more rigorous college and career-ready standards and assessments that measure student growth over time.

“We need a realistic, measurable accountability system based on growth and individual student progress rather than an absolute, unattainable goal handed down from Washington,’’ said State Board of Education Chairman Gery J. Chico. “Illinois will request a waiver that builds upon the Board’s goals to better prepare every student for success in college and careers, raising expectations for all students and closing achievement gaps.”

The statewide composite score for students meeting and exceeding on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) given to elementary students saw an increase, going from 80.9 in 2010 to 82.0 percent in 2011. The achievement gap also shows signs of closing with an 11 percent increase in performance for Black students at the elementary level since 2006 and a 2.6 percent increase for Hispanic students during that same time.

The composite score for the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE), given to 11th graders, decreased from 53 in 2010 to 50.5 in 2011. One explanation for this year’s decline may be the increase of about 12,500 PSAE test takers in 2011, per new state rules emphasizing that all 11th graders must take the exam, which includes the ACT.

“It is great to see improvements being made at the elementary level in closing the achievement gap,” Said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. “This progress is essential as we implement the common core standards and will help to ensure students enter high school performing at grade level and leave ready for college and careers.”

Students in third through eighth grades last March took ISAT in reading and mathematics while fourth and seventh graders were also tested in science. Students in 11th grade last April took the PSAE which tests students in math, reading, science and writing. Only reading and mathematics results are used in calculating AYP.

In 2011, schools were expected to show 85 percent of students meeting or exceeding proficiency standards, up from 77.5 percent in 2010. The target high school graduation rate increased from 80 percent in 2010 to 82 percent in 2011. Attendance rate targets for elementary and middle schools in 2011 remained the same as the previous year at 91 percent.

In 2010, the State Board of Education adopted the new Illinois Learning Standards in math and English Language Arts based on the internationally-benchmarked Common Core State Standards. Illinois is a member of the 26-state Partnership for Assessment for College and Careers (PARCC) that is developing a new generation of tests aligned to the new standards to better measure students knowledge, skills and growth. The new state tests are expected to be available by the 2014-15 schoolyear.

Where District 158 Stands: 

District 158 is in its first year of not making AYP.

Huntley High School, Leggee Elementary School and Hannah Martin Elementary did not make AYP.

Heineman Middle School, Marlowe Middle School, Chesak Elementary School, Conley Elementary School, and Mackeban Elementary School all did make AYP.

Heineman Middle School, Marlowe Middle School and Conley Elementary School all made Honor Roll status. 

Facts provided by Illinois State Board of Education and Northern Illinois University. You can see the full report on their website. Here is a report of District 158’s AYP status.

Student Demographics & Performance    

• In 2010-11, the total enrollment in Illinois public schools was 2,074,806.
• Since 1999, the percentage of low-income students has increased from 36.1 percent to 48.1 percent in 2011.
• Minority enrollment increased to 48.6 in 2011 from 38 percent in 1999. The increase is accounted for mainly by Hispanic students who have increased from 13.9 percent in 1999 to 23.0 percent of all students in 2011.
• The composite score for all state tests increased slightly from 76.4 in 2010 to 76.5 in 2011.
• Eighty percent of districts failed to make AYP in 2011, an increase from 64 percent in 2010.

ISBE has produced the School Report Card since 1986 for every public school and district in Illinois. State report cards have been produced since 2002 and are required under No Child Left Behind.

Featured Photo: Seniors Bernadette Pacariem, 17, left, and Hersielyn Barnachea,16, right,  ork on a mixer event in Pam Esqua’s Event Planning class at Milpitas High School in Milpitas, California, on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. Changes about how students are being educated are happening all over the country including California. News reform on education is expected to hit Illinois and the federal government soon. (Karen T. Borchers/San Jose Mercury News/MCT)