The Illinois State Board of Education is issuing a report card that shows the percentage of schools that failed to meet strict performance targets set by the federal No Child Left Behind law is climbing slightly.
But in releasing its report card, the board explains that the evaluation process is being overhauled because of major flaws in the current system. The latest evaluation of schools, students and teachers found that 66 percent of the state's schools failed to meet the targets. Out of 671 high schools, only 11 met the standards based on test scores.
Statewide, nearly 40% of title one schools are now listed in "improvement status." More than 100 schools in southern Illinois are included, ranging from small to large, elementary to high school. Carbondale High School, Middle School as well as Thomas and Lewis Elementary Schools are on the improvement list. So are schools in Anna, Benton, Carterville, DuQuoin, Effingham, Harrisburg, Marion, Mt. Vernon, Murphysboro, Pinckneyville, Robinson, Salem, Vandalia, Ziegler and many points in-between. Education leaders early on predicted the number of schools in "improvement status" would increase each year under No Child Left Behind, as the standards went up as well. Currently to avoid improvement status, schools must show 85% of their students scoring at or above the standard, 95% of them must take the test, attendance rates must average 91% and graduation rates have to be at least 82%.
Officials say the revamped testing system will better show how students are doing throughout the school year and not just how they do after one standardized test.
