D65 Shows Progress on Illinois State Report Cards

Dear District 65 Community -

On Monday, our team presented updates on student academic progress at the Board Curriculum and Policy Committee Meeting. Much of this data is also included in the annual Illinois Report Card which was published in late October.

There is no denying that the pandemic had a significant impact on our students’ academic growth and yet we are optimistic and are seeing meaningful signs of progress!

There is a high level data snapshot on our website with more detailed information. And yet, I wanted to share some highlights and areas we are focusing on:

Promising Trends

• Fourteen out of fifteen D65 schools earn highest designations by the Illinois State Board of Education of Exemplary or Commendable 
  D65 continues to outperform state averages in English Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science on Illinois Readiness Assessment (IAR)
  • Students of all reported race/ethnicities, low income status, and students with IEPs all show gains in reading and math
• Black and Latinx students with individualized learning needs demonstrate pre-pandemic growth on Dynamic Learning Maps Assessment
• Students who participate in our high dosage tutoring through our Academic Skill Centers (ASC) outperform students who are eligible but do not participate
• Five schools surpassed 2019 IAR (pre-pandemic) data in ELA.
• Three schools surpassed 2019 IAR (pre-pandemic) data in Math.

Areas for Growth

• Foundational skills in grades k-2 will require differentiated instruction and intervention supports to address the skills gaps demonstrated in each grade level.
• More support is needed to address the learning gaps in order to support improved academic outcomes among our Emerging Bilingual student population.

This is only a snapshot of the robust data presented at last night’s meeting. I encourage you to take some time to review the meeting materials for additional context and data.

As superintendent, it’s important to me to be transparent and reflective with our data, to set goals, and report on our progress. We also know that our student growth is reflected in so much more than just test scores. While there is certainly more work to do, we are excited by the promising trends across the District and, more importantly, to really see the joy of learning in our schools!

I encourage you to review our most recent MIRACLES in Action Report to better understand the tremendous work that I believe is really fueling our progress. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Best,

Dr. Devon Horton (he/him)
Superintendent