---

School Board Journal
March / April

---

STATESIDE
Changes in school accreditation
focus on teaching and learning

By JOSEPH A. SPAGNOLO

Structural change was clearly needed to link school improvement and accountability directly to teaching and learning. Our objectives must become (1) to improve student performance through a well-designed, locally implemented teaching and learning process and (2) to use accountability to demonstrate our progress toward achieving well-known and well-accepted academic goals in the schools.

The following summary outlines a few of my recommendations to link school improvement and accountability to teaching and learning.

Illinois Goal Assessment Program (IGAP). The state assessment tests will be given to all students, except those with IEPs and certain bilingual students. The tests will reflect both the state goals and the learning standards and will be altered to measure individual student performance. Beginning with the 1996-97 school year, IGAP tests may be used in place of the alternative assessment tests required by the state.

School Improvement Plans. Schools will have the option of using the existing seven-step school improvement process or certifying that they have developed their own system that includes the fundamental elements of data gathering, analysis and utilization to improve student performance. School improvement resources will be used to train teachers in classroom assessment techniques that are consistent with IGAP measures.

Quality Assurance. Schools will no longer be required to undergo state visits to judge local planning or local outcomes. Quality assurance, which will occur both externally and internally, will emphasize improving student learning through local action. External reviews will be conducted by teachers, principals, superintendents, parents and the business community selected on state, regional and local bases. This team will validate performance and recommend improvements. The schools' internal reviews will assess progress toward these improvements.

Two factors will determine how schools are ranked: absolute achievement on IGAP tests and progress by all students toward meeting the state's minimum academic standards. Schools that are making considerable progress toward achieving academic goals will be recognized through the accreditation process.

Local Assessments. Schools will no longer be required to develop local assessments and local outcomes. However, the State Board of Education recognizes their value to school improvement and encourages schools to continue developing their own assessments and outcomes. Emphasis should be on developing classroom assessments consistent with the state assessment.

The improved process I have outlined is meant to add to, not subtract from, the efforts put forth thus far. This process is intended to focus more directly on teaching and learning, add value to schooling and support our teachers and administrators in their efforts to achieve higher standards of student learning.

For more information on school accreditation, refer to the Superintendent's Bulletin 96S-07 available on ISBE's homepage at http://www.isbe.state.il.us/ homepage.html under "News Releases" or contact Communications and External Relations, Illinois State Board of Education, 100 N. First, Springfield, Illinois 62777-0001 or phone 217/524-7618.

Joseph A. Spagnolo is Illinois State Superintendent of Education.