Illinois wants to drift away from No Child Left Behind program

Many schools have been closed or turned into charter schools as a a result of poor academic performance under a reform program known as "No Child Left Behind." This is due to the majority of Illinois schools having not met the law's benchmarks.

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS (Catholic Online) - NCLB states that if students' test scores do not improve for two years in a row, the school must develop some sort of improvement plan. If the school does not improve for a third year, it must offer free tutoring and other academic improvement services to the students.

Waivers have been granted to 11 states, with twenty-eight others, including Illinois, applying for a one. The waiver would allow the number of states to avoid the requirements of a federal education reform.

President Barack Obama announced in September that he would use his executive authority to release states from many of the reform's requirements. One requirement is that all students must excel in math and reading by 2014. This is a goal that is almost close to impossible.

Of  Illinois' 3,810 schools, only 1,259 are meeting the law's yearly progress requirements. Illinois in the makes of a new plan, one that they feel is better than the NCLB program.

Education officials say Illinois' plan focuses on responsibility for educators and administrators, but is also more lenient toward achievement gaps.

"Illinois is part of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, which includes 24 states and the District of Columbia. Those assessments will be used by 2014, and will track student progress from grades third to 12th in math and reading," Monique Chism, administrator of innovations and improvement at the Illinois State Board of Education. "In addition to the college and career assessment, other tests - shorter but more frequent - will provide teachers, parents and students with almost immediate feedback."

The new assessments would begin in 2014.

The new assessments will rate schools based on a five-star system, with five being the best and one the worst. Low rated schools will be inspected by a third-party research company. The inspection will include assessments of the curriculum and finances. The district will then work with the specific school to make a plan to help improve its standing.

"We will and we are prepared to intervene in schools and districts that continue to show that they're not making progress," Chism said.

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