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He said he did not
see the trend changing any time soon, especially with the closing of
the Lincoln Developmental Center, which is costing the Logan County
community as many as 700 jobs.
"Some youngsters in
our schools had both parents working there," he said. "Some of our
families may have to move."
However, there was
good news, too. Dr. Kidd said he had received last spring’s Illinois
State Achievement Test scores and was happy overall with the
results.
"We can’t get
complacent, but we are heading in the right direction," he said.
Third-grade students
at Central Elementary School scored higher than the state average in
reading, with 65 percent meeting or exceeding standards, compared
with the state average of 63 percent. The students did well in math,
with 70 percent meeting or exceeding standards, but not quite as
well as the state average of 74 percent. In writing, third-graders
scored 52 percent, compared with a state average of 57 percent.
Central
fourth-graders beat state standards, scoring 85 percent in science,
compared with a state standard of 67 percent, and 68 percent in
social studies, compared with the state average of 60 percent.
Central fifth-graders
did not do so well, scoring 48 percent in reading, compared with a
state average of 59 percent; 52 percent in math, compared with the
state’s 63 percent; and only 36 percent in writing, compared with 59
percent for the state.
Washington-Monroe
third-graders beat the state standards in all three categories,
scoring 68 percent, compared with the 63 percent state average, in
reading; 80 percent, compared with 74 percent, in math; and 77
percent, compared with 57 percent, in writing.
Fourth- and
fifth-graders at Washington-Monroe also beat the state averages
consistently. Fourth-graders scored 78 percent in science, compared
with 67 percent for the state average, and 70 percent in social
science, compared with 60 percent for the state.
Fifth-graders scored
76 percent in reading, compared with 59 percent for the state
average; 83 percent in math, compared with 63 percent; and 81
percent in writing, compared with 59 percent.
Northwest
third-graders beat the state average in reading, 64 percent to 63
percent; and in math, 78 percent to 74 percent; but lagged slightly
in writing, 50 percent to 57 percent.
Washington-Monroe
recently won recognition from former state Superintendent of Schools
Glenn "Max" McGee for its achievement, overcoming the disparity
often found between low-income or minority students and their peers.
Fourth-graders at
Northwest did not do so well, with only 52 percent meeting or
exceeding standards in science, compared with a state average of 67
percent, and 46 percent in social science, compared with 60 percent.
Northwest
fifth-graders barely beat the state average in reading, 60 percent
to 59 percent; lagged slightly in math, 60 percent to 63 percent;
and fell behind even more in writing, with only 40 percent meeting
or exceeding standards, compared with the 59 percent state average.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
Only 45 percent of
Jefferson School third graders met or exceeded standards in reading,
compared with a state average of 63 percent. In math, 70 percent met
or exceeded standards, compared with a state high of 74 percent.
Writing was the third-graders’ strong point, with 78 percent meeting
or exceeding standards, compared with a state average of 57 percent.
Seventh-graders at
Lincoln Junior High School scored somewhat better than the state
average, with 84 percent, compared with 73 percent, meeting or
exceeding standards in science and 59 percent, compared with 58
percent, in social studies.
Eighth-graders
slipped in all three categories, with 54 percent, compared with a 69
percent state average, meeting or exceeding reading standards; 41
percent, compared with 52 percent, meeting or exceeding math
standards; and 50 percent, compared with 62 percent at the state
level, meeting or exceeding writing standards.
All scores are for
tests taken in the previous school year and include all students,
both learning disabled and some special education students.
District 27, along
with other districts in Logan County, has also met the Adequate
Yearly Progress target and will not be required to allow students to
transfer to higher-performing schools this year, Kidd said.
Under the new federal
No Child Left Behind law, schools which do not meet the targets will
be required to provide opportunities for their students to attend
other, higher-achieving schools in the area.
At least 40 percent
of a school district’s students had to get passing scores on the
Illinois State Achievement Tests, or ISATs, to be exempt from the
NCLB law last year, Kidd said. This coming year, schools must have
at least 45 percent meeting or exceeding state standards, and the
following year the number must be 50 percent.
By the year 2014,
according to the new standards promoted by President George W. Bush,
100 percent of students must be meeting state standards, including
some special education students, the learning disabled and the
educable mentally handicapped, although not the most profoundly
handicapped students, Kidd said. He said he thought those standards
would be very difficult to meet.
Schools that do not
meet the Adequate Yearly Progress targets will have to pay to send
poorly performing students to better schools in the district. If a
school continues to fail meeting targets, "sanctions escalate," he
said.
He said he had tried
to get a formula from the state to see exactly what standards would
have to be met this year and was told the formula is "very
complicated."
"The concept that every child does well
in school is one we should all be shooting for, but that’s what our
district has been working towards for a long time," he said.
[Joan
Crabb]
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"Community colleges
provide an affordable education for people trying to build a better
life for themselves and their families," said Gov. Ryan. "Community
colleges are partners in our work force development efforts."
The release of these
capital funds is part of a $50 million allocation designated solely
for Illinois community colleges by Gov. Ryan. This is part of his
initiative to allocate a total of $250 million over five years for
the long overdue renovation and replacement of temporary buildings
on community college campuses throughout the state.
"Governor Ryan has
consistently proven himself a friend of Illinois community
colleges," said Illinois Community College Board Chairman Edward T.
Duffy. "He has championed the value of community colleges throughout
his administration, and I want to recognize him publicly with our
appreciation for his great support."
Gov. Ryan also
visited John A. Logan Community College for the groundbreaking of a
new Workforce Development Center and a Community Health Education
Complex on Wednesday.
"One of the hallmarks
of Governor Ryan’s administration is its commitment to work force
development," said ICCB President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph
J. Cipfl. "Governor Ryan truly recognizes the intimate link between
education and a strong work force and expects Illinois community
colleges to deliver."
Kaskaskia College is
located in the first district in Illinois to be established under
the
Illinois Public Junior College Act. Oscar Corbell, the first
college president, wrote the act in 1937. The Illinois Community
College Board is the state coordinating agency for the 39 community
college districts and 48 community colleges. Illinois is the third
largest community college system in the United States.
Gov. Ryan also
announced the release of Illinois community college construction
grants for the following:
• Rock Valley College, Rockford — $9,181,500 toward a
total $23,816,000 for an arts instructional building
• Rend Lake College, Ina — $1,102,600 for expansion of
the Career and Applied Technology Center
[to top of second column in
this article] |
• Olive-Harvey College, City Colleges of Chicago — $1
million toward a total $29,911,000 for a new building
• Morton College, Cicero — $3,951,700 for emergency
building repairs
• Sauk Valley, Dixon — $3,305,100 for the remodeling of
two buildings
• Shawnee College, Ullin — $1,863,500 for the
Metropolis Regional Education Center
• Southeastern Illinois College, Harrisburg —
$3,623,600 for renovation and expansion of the technology center
• Kishwaukee College, Malta — $1,140,000 for
replacement of the Early Childhood Center
• Richard J. Daley College, City Colleges of Chicago —
$4 million toward a total $12,205,000 for the Industrial Technology
Center
• Richland Community College, Decatur — $2,182,000 for
the Agriculture/Occupational Technology Building.
• Heartland Community College, Normal — $1.2 million
toward a total $12,020,700 for the Workforce Development Center
• Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield —
$666,300 for expansion of the Regional Center in Taylorville
• Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills — $2.7
million for temporary facilities replacement
• South Suburban College, South Holland — $937,000 for
renovation of gymnasium and maintenance facility
• Lake Land College, Mattoon — $575,000 toward a total
$5,773,200 for Phase II of the Center for Technical Education
• Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville — $888,000
for the Fire Science Training Center
• Danville Area Community College, Danville — $1
million toward a total $3,381,300 for remodeling of the Conference
Center
•
Lewis & Clark Community College, Godfrey — $900,000 for the
Carlinville Center
[Illinois
Government News Network
press release]
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