---

School Board News Bulletin
September 2001

---

Half of students meet state standards on first-ever Prairie State Achievement Exam

Illinois government less taxing than most states'

State Superintendent McGee resigns amid falling scores on standardized reading tests

Alternative special education procedures now on the Web

More teachers flunking certification exam

Media events promote reading

Terrorist attacks leave federal education plans in limbo

NEWS FROM IASB

Staff to present 'board monitoring' topic at NSBA conference

Board of directors meets

Nominating committee slates IASB officers

TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS

Free advice about referendum success offered

Useful Web sites listed

RESEARCH REPORTS

Drugs often obtained in secondary schools; study

Illinois enrollment expected to drop 2.1 percent by 2011

Public schools get highest ratings in 30 years

ILLINOIS SCHOOLS

Illinois Virtual High School online learning earns good grades

SAT, ACT college entrance scores soar for high school seniors

State Board to examine basic skills assessment of teacher candidates

JOINT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

NSBA to host 'Key Work' lab at IASB Conference

Between 50 and 60 percent of all Illinois high school juniors met or exceeded the Illinois Learning Standards on the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) last spring.

The scores are noteworthy because they set a benchmark for student mastery of state learning standards against which future student scores can be measured. The results will be used to provide state rewards and sanctions to schools and districts under a new education accountability system. The PSAE scores also matter because they will be included on the school report cards that districts must publicly release and distribute to parents by October 31.

"While we wish the scores were higher, I am pleased insofar as this was the first year of a very tough test," said State Superintendent of Education Glenn W. McGee, who had announced his retirement a few days earlier.

The PSAE exam gives schools information they need to improve teaching and learning, and helps local and state leaders target resources most effectively to support and improve student achievement, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

The exam is a groundbreaking combination of state-developed assessments, including the ACT, a nationally recognized college entrance exam. It also incorporates two nationally recognized ACT WorkKeys tests of workplace-related math and reading skills.

Despite the acknowledged difficulty of the test, and the likelihood that students were not taught all the information contained on the test, some were impatient with the outcome of the first exam. "This will be disappointing for everyone," said Illinois State Board of Education chairman Ronald Gidwitz. "This clearly portrays the fact that far, far too many of our young people are graduating from high school inadequately prepared."

Both McGee and Gidwitz lamented the large achievement gap on the exams between black and white students, a gap that was largest in science and math. For example, 16 percent of black students met or exceeded PSAE science standards, compared with 60 percent of white students.

Meanwhile, the latest statewide exam results from the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) showed similar results, with a wide achievement gap between minority and white students, and with slow progress by students across the board. Mathematics was the only subject area in which significant progress was demonstrated.

For additional information about the PSAE, visit the ISBE Web site at http://www.isbe.net/assessment/psae.htm. For more on the ISAT, visit the ISBE Web site at http://www.isbe.net/standards/results.html.

Table of Contents

The average Illinois resident boasts a higher income than the average American but shells out less money in state taxes, according to new federal statistics.

In 2000, Illinois residents reported an average personal income per capita of $32,259, significantly above with the national average of $29,676. But Illinoisans paid only $1,835 in state taxes in 2000, significantly below the national average of $1,921.

The new data—derived from census figures and other federal sources—was released by the U.S. Department of Commerce July 27.

Meanwhile, the Illinois General Assembly’s budgeting arm has estimated that state revenue will be roughly $100 million less than anticipated for 2001.

State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) said that even though state taxes are modest compared to other states, property taxes are higher in Illinois. The new statistics may renew an old debate over Illinois’ tax system: Should the weight be shifted more toward income taxes instead of property taxes?

Funding schools largely through local property taxes has created a tremendous imbalance in the quality of schools in poorer communities compared with schools in wealthier districts, she added.

Source: "Illinois not as taxing as many states," Chicago Tribune, July 27, 2001.

Table of Contents

State Superintendent Glenn W. "Max" McGee announced August 29 he has decided to "not seek renewal" of his contract, which expires December 31, 2001. McGee will serve out the remainder of his contract. The Illinois State Board of Education had held extensive discussions over the past several months on the direction of the agency, and had concluded that "new leadership will be required for success in the next, much more difficult stage of school reform."

The board has stated it will "immediately begin the process of searching for [a] successor." A transition team of three State Board members, including Chairman Ron Gidwitz and members Marilyn McConachie and Vincent J. Serritella, will oversee the transition process.

In his letter to the board, Superintendent McGee indicated he believed that "change needs to happen more rapidly." McGee also said "the State Board would be better served by a new leader who can bring different experiences and skills to the table."

McGee’s greatest accomplishment, according to McConachie, was introducing the state’s new Prairie State Achievement Exam, which he managed to link to the ACT college entrance exam to provide a mandatory exit test for all high school juniors. The ACT requirement uncovered "ten thousand kids in Illinois who said they weren’t going to college who scored high enough to be accepted at most colleges in the state," McConachie noted.

Ironically, disappointing standardized test scores were a key factor in McGee’s downfall. Chairman Gidwitz had questioned how more than half of the state’s eighth graders last year could be falling short of the state’s math standards. Test results showed that nearly 40 percent of third-graders were missing the mark in reading, McConachie noted, adding "there are things we could do better."

With discussion of education funding reform growing, experts say, the next state superintendent of education could play a vital role in helping to set the agenda for reform. "Reform alternatives likely will include altering or increasing state income taxes and other taxes, and the new state superintendent probably will play a major role in the statewide debate," according to Dr. Michael Johnson, IASB Executive Director.

For more information visit: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/ news/mcgee.htm.

Table of Contents

Mission accomplished. The special education committee of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys (ICSA) has worked since April to develop alternative special education policy and procedures that reflect state and federal law requirements. Of course these draft provisions also had to be acceptable to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

The ICSA has prepared an alternative set of special education procedures to help school districts and special education joint agreements comply with a requirement of the Illinois State Board of Education announced in January. The Committee’s procedures can provide a framework into which local school districts and joint agreements should insert their own specific procedures.

Because attorneys on the Special Education Committee donated their time and IASB covered all other costs, the procedures may be downloaded free of charge. The procedures and the checklist can be found on the IASB home page at http://www.iasb.com (see "Special Ed Procedures" in the section labeled "What’s New?").

Superintendents across the state were notified of this news August 15 via IASB broadcast fax. Special education directors were e-mailed or faxed according to availability of contact information. A sample policy was made available by the same method June 7.

Bobbie Reguly, of the ISBE, has indicated that the state agency will be flexible on the submission date on a case-by-case basis. School districts and joint agreements needing additional time should contact her at 217/782-5589.

Table of Contents

A Chicago Sun-Times investigative series on Illinois teacher certification testing and employment distribution has found "hundreds [of teachers] employed full time last year in Illinois public schools who had not passed both a basic skills test and a subject matter test."

The basic skills test is being overhauled by state officials because it was considered too easy to pass. As the newspaper noted, teachers must pass both tests to obtain a regular or "initial" Illinois teaching certificate.

While 92 percent of Illinois teachers have never flunked a certification test, the Sun-Times uncovered an unequal distribution of those teachers who have flunked.

"The achievement gap among teachers mirrors the achievement gap among students, the Sun-Times analysis indicates. The lowest-scoring, highest-minority, lowest-income schools were roughly five times more likely than high-scoring, low-minority and higher-income schools to employ teachers who had flunked at least one test," the newspaper report stated.

Governor George Ryan has directed the ISBE to investigate concerns raised by the Sun-Times findings, said Ryan spokesman Dennis Culloton. Topics to be investigated include "what information principals and other hiring authorities can properly get on teacher applicants," Culloton said.

Source: "5,243 Illinois teachers failed key tests," Chicago Sun-Times, September 6, 2001; and "Why are teacher tests secret? politicians ask," Chicago Sun-Times, September 7, 2001.

Table of Contents

School leaders wishing to encourage young people to read more—as well as to publicize the importance of literacy and public education—might support an upcoming event endorsed by the NSBA Board of Directors: The American Library Association’s Teen Read Week 2001, Oct. 14-20. This year’s theme, "Make Reading a Hobbit," focuses on the popularity of fantasy literature and encourages teenagers to make reading for fun a habit.

Source: School Board News, National School Boards Association, July 17, 2001.

Table of Contents

The devastating terrorist attacks against America have left federal education reforms and school funding discussions in limbo.

According to reports, priorities have shifted dramatically on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers have delayed work on education for an indefinite period to deal with the aftermath of deadly attacks Sept. 11 in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington.

"In the short run, I think (education) will be relegated to the backburner," Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) said last week.

Congress canceled committee meetings, including reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and hearings on education funding and research.

Congress was scheduled to begin debate on weighty budget issues when the attacks occurred. But in their aftermath, President Bush and congressional leaders are calling for emergency supplement spending for rescue efforts, and increasing national security. Included in this spending is a $20 billion request for anti-terrorism measures. Some leaders, however, believe work on education bills will continue "behind the scenes."

"Key negotiators and congressional staff plan to continue intensive discussions and there are no plans at this time to suspend the conference process," said Reps. John Boehner (R-Ohio) and George Miller, (D-California), and Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), and Judd Gregg (R-New Hampshire).

---

NEWS FROM IASB

---

How can boards fulfill their responsibility to monitor compliance with written board policy without becoming bogged down in minutiae? How can superintendents provide their boards with the information needed to monitor compliance without spending all their time writing lengthy reports that nobody reads anyway? These questions will be addressed in a panel titled "Taming the Board Policy Manual" that will be presented at the NSBA national conference in April 2002 by two IASB staff members: Sandy Gundlach of Field Services and Anna Lovern of Policy Services.

The panel will first provide attendees with a brief overview of the six Foundational Principles of Effective Governance. These principles have become the underlying philosophy for all of IASB’s products and services for school boards. They were introduced to a national audience at the 2001 NSBA conference by staff members Angie Peifer and Cathy Talbert. This year’s panel will concentrate on one of those six principles – The Board Monitors Performance: The board constantly monitors progress toward district goals and compliance with written board policy. The monitoring system that will be presented has been developed as one of many companion pieces for the six principles.

Table of Contents

The Board of Directors met in Oak Brook August 24-26. Highlights of action taken by the board included: receiving membership reports for the end of the 2000-2001 fiscal year showing a 97 percent membership among Illinois school districts, along with initial reports for the 2001-2002 fiscal year; approving a proposal from the Legislative Education Network of DuPage (LEND) to respectfully dissolve the agreement that created LEND in order to permit LEND to operate without IASB involvement; reviewing the McVOTES agreement and taking action to respectfully dissolve that agreement, as well.

Table of Contents

The IASB Delegate Assembly will elect officers at the annual meeting to be held Saturday, November 17, from 10:30 until noon at the Joint Annual Conference. The slate of officers to be placed before the delegates by the IASB Nominating Committee includes:

Christy Coleman, Geneseo C.U. District 228, for President;
Ray Zimmerman, Flanagan C.U. District 4, for Vice President;
Milt Koppenhoefer, Metamora C.C. District 1, for Director-at-Large;
Mark Metzger, Indian Prairie C.U. District 204, Naperville, for Director-at-Large;
Frances Roll, Cary C.C. District 26, for Director-at-Large;
Michelle Skinlo, Mattoon C.U. District 2, for Director-at-Large.

Table of Contents

---

TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS

---

Do your school buildings have at least one employee or public entrance that is not wheelchair accessible? If the answer is "yes," federal ADA regulations (35.163) require your schools to place ADA signs at every employee and public entrance, whether accessible or not. Fortunately, the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) now offers a special kit to help schools cost-effectively comply with the current ADA entrance sign rules.

Each sign kit includes the number and kind of signs required to properly mark school facility entrances, plus mounting materials and instructions and ADA guidelines. All kit materials have been reviewed by the ADA Technical Assistance Center—Region V.

To order an Entrance Sign Kit from AASA, count the number of wheelchair accessible and inaccessible entrances to your school facilities that are not marked with ADA signs. Then call the AASA ADA sign staff, toll free at 877/ADA-KITS (877/232-5487), or send or fax a purchase order for the needed number of signs to ADA KIT-AASA Entrance Project, 56 Salem Lane, Evanston, IL 60203 (fax 847/568-9485). The kit cost is $20 per sign ordered plus $9.50 S&H (for up to 10 signs).

Please note: wheelchair inaccessible entrance signs have arrows on each sign to direct people to the nearest accessible entrance, as required by law. All kits include free updates. Additional custom signs for entrances as well as interior Braille classroom or office signs are also available.

Table of Contents

In order to address the sometimes exaggerated parental concerns about school violence (studies show children are safer in schools than anywhere else), state officials have created a "Safe To Learn" initiative, a comprehensive approach to preventing violence in Illinois schools. Two of its main components are the School Violence Tipline and the Safe To Learn grant program.

The Illinois Attorney General’s office, in conjunction with the Illinois State Police, established the toll-free School Violence Tipline (1-800/477-0024) in 1998.

Students who hear about impending violence at school often want to intervene, and the tipline allows them to inform a trusted adult, particularly in cases where the student fears reprisal and is unwilling to sacrifice anonymity. Calls are answered by trained state police officers in Springfield, who route the calls to the appropriate local sheriff or police department and to the affected school in the community from which the call originates.

A state police study evaluating the line’s effectiveness between October 1998 and December 2000 shows that operators received more than 380 phone calls, 177 of which were deemed to report potential threats. Those 177 calls were routed to law enforcement agencies.

Seven of those agencies identified actual threats, arrests were made in four of those incidents and three resulted in prosecution. Weapons were found in two of those cases. Five of the seven agencies identifying actual threats credit the tipline with helping to avert a crisis or threat.

Magnets and posters featuring the tipline number are available for distribution. The theme of the posters is, "Heroes Call Before It’s Too Late." To request these items, call 217/557-6461.

For more information on the Safe To Learn initiative, log on to http://www.ag.state.il.us and click the "Programs" icon.

In addition, the legislature has appropriated $13.9 million for the Safe To Learn grants for fiscal year 2002. The funding is administered by the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority. To be eligible, schools are required to complete a school safety assessment and to collaborate with at least one community agency in the implementation of their school safety and violence prevention plan. The money is to be used by schools for safety and violence prevention, and schools may request funding in one or more of the following categories: building security, violence prevention and intervention, crisis management and teacher/staff training. For more information, contact the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority at 312/986-9200.

Table of Contents

The Audio Journal is a new information source for busy school leaders that allows subscribers to listen to audio excerpts featuring the thoughts of education leaders. The monthly service represents "an audio-taped executive briefing," according to Jim Cisek, the man who originated the service (see enclosed flyer for more details).

IASB has joined with the Illinois Principals Association and the Illinois Association of School Administrators to sponsor the service. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.audioed.com or phone 800/824-4804.

Table of Contents

The Donors Forum of Chicago is sponsoring a series of board governance workshops for nonprofit boards, including school boards. To learn more visit the Web site at: http://www.donorsforum.org/programs/prog_board_governance.html

Table of Contents

---

RESEARCH REPORTS

---

At many secondary schools tobacco, drugs and alcohol are readily available and parents, teachers, administrators, and communities do little to discourage their use, according to a new six-year study.

"American schools are decidedly not alcohol and drug-free," according to Joseph A. Califano, Jr., president of Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, which conducted the massive study.

Source: "Students Get Drugs at School, Study Shows," Reuters, September 5, 2001

Table of Contents

Enrollments are expected to drop 3.3 percent in the Midwest and 4.2 percent in the Northeast by 2,011, with enrollments in Illinois public schools dropping 2.1 percent from now until 2,011. So says a new U.S. Department of Education report titled Projections of Education Statistics to 2011.

Illinois public school enrollments are expected to grow slowly, peaking at roughly 2,076,000 students by 2005, and then to decline to a low of 2,019,000 by 2011, the report indicates.

The report is based in part on 1990 U.S. Census data; projections of national population data from the 2000 U.S. Census won’t be released until next year. The new report is available on the Web site at http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2001/2001083.pdf.

Source: "School Enrollment Expected to Rise," The Associated Press, August 16, 2001.

Table of Contents

The new 2001 Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup survey, "The Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools," shows that Americans give the public schools in their communities the highest ratings in the 30-year history of this annual poll. For the first time, a majority (51 percent) of the American public assigns an A or B grade to their local schools. In 2000, the comparable figure was 47 percent. More than eight in 10 (81 percent) award their schools at least a C – also a record high.

In addition, 62 percent of parents of students in the local public schools assign either an A or B to their local schools, the highest number since 1974 and five points higher than in 2000.

Source: "The 33rd Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll Of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools," The Gallup Organization, August 23, 2001.

Table of Contents

---

ILLINOIS SCHOOLS

---

During the pilot semester of the Illinois Virtual High School (IVHS), which ended June 30, a total of 292 students were enrolled in 24 courses around the state. Customer satisfaction surveys reveal that student and teacher enthusiasm is high for the online learning.

During the first semester, schools encountered some minor problems with course servers and vendor procedures. As a result, IVHS has already implemented improvements to its system.

Governor George H. Ryan established IVHS in January 2001 as part of his VentureTech Initiative. The goal of IVHS online learning is to use new and emerging technologies to expand boundaries for student and teachers, thereby providing them with increased equity and access to top quality educational opportunities.

A total of 127 high schools have completed the necessary forms to participate in the IVHS this term. If any high school would like to enroll students in the IVHS and has not completed the required forms, the IVHS Information Packet can be downloaded at http://www.ivhs.k12.il.us. In addition, a local IVHS team member handbook was electronically disseminated to all participating schools the week of August 20.

For additional information, contact Brad Woodruff, ISBE, at 217/782-2826 or send e-mail to bwoodruf@isbe.net .

Table of Contents

Illinois student scores on the 2001 SAT college placement exam improved more than student scores in any other state, SAT officials announced August 28.

The news followed similar results on the ACT exam, taken by 71 percent of Illinois seniors. Illinois students showed greater gains over the past five years than students in any of the 25 other states in which a majority of graduating seniors take the ACT.

"These results are further proof that we’re on the right track in Illinois schools," Governor George Ryan stated.

The SAT and the ACT are standardized tests, usually taken by college-bound high school seniors. The SAT I: Reasoning Test, for example, is a test of verbal and mathematical reasoning ability. Like the ACT, it is designed to help schools determine which individual students will do well in college.

In Illinois, mean scores of seniors on the verbal portion of the SAT increased 8 points to 576 and 3 points on the math portion to 589. In the last decade, Illinois’ combined scores have risen 66 points.

Nationally, scores on the verbal portion of the SAT increased by 1 point to 506, and math scores did not change from 514, which remains the highest level in 30 years. Since 1991, the combined score nationally rose by 21 points. The best score possible on either section is 800.

Although Illinois posted higher increased scores than other states, SAT officials cautioned against making comparisons between states. Participation levels have a lot to do with results, and only 12 percent of graduating seniors in Illinois took the SAT.

Some Illinois students took the SAT in order to apply to elite colleges, particularly east-coast schools, where the SAT is favored. At one time, colleges specified which exam, SAT or ACT, they required. Now most accept either.

For more information, visit the Web site at: http://www.collegeboard.com.

Source: "Illinois SAT scores take biggest jump in nation," Chicago Sun-Times, August 29, 2001.

Table of Contents

Among the highlights of the Illinois State Board Of Education (ISBE) meeting of August 22-23 was discussion of the changes proposed for the basic skills assessment of teacher candidates. These recommendations came from an NCREL study, which was commissioned by the state board in its desire to accelerate the rigor of the test.

Discussion followed on the possible tests to be used, along with the options of testing reading, writing, and math and presenting one composite score or individual subject scores. The direction seems to be to use both scoring mechanisms. The board further discussed gaining test rigor from increasing the cut score. Because the board wanted to change the basic skills test for the Sept. 15, 2001 testing they needed to have emergency rules.

Source: Cynthia S. Woods, IASB staff.

Table of Contents

---

JOINT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

---

NSBA will provide board members an opportunity at this year’s Conference to join in an interactive session designed to introduce eight "key" action areas for boards. This "Key Work of School Boards" session is aimed at raising student achievement through community engagement.

A 20-station mobile wireless lab will be available for this purpose Friday, November 16, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m., and Saturday, November 17, 10:30 - 12 p.m. at the Sheraton Chicago.

The mobile lab will enable Conference participants to explore the entire NSBA-created framework on Key Work. On hand will be Hilary LaMonte, NSBA’s Director of Education Services, who will offer instruction as board members explore the NSBA Web site devoted to this topic. For more information see the official Conference Program.

Table of Contents

IASB ARCHIVES HOME

Illinois Association of School Boards

2921 Baker Drive
Springfield, Illinois 62703