Post by title1parent on Sept 28, 2009 5:10:08 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=324189&src=76
Test results look good, but always room for improvement
By Kathryn Birkett | Guest Columnist: 9/28/200
Success comes as the result of much hard work. Indian Prairie Unit District 204's academic results are no exception, and there are many successes to celebrate. Our teachers have focused on rigorous curriculum and on each individual student's progress and success. Their efforts are being rewarded.
Our recently released test scores show the district's average ACT score rose from 23.4 to 23.8. This increase is four times the average state increase.
We are very excited about our students' consistent and high achievement across all grade levels on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test. As a district, an incredibly high percentage of our students met or exceeded state standards: 91.2 percent in math, 87 percent in science and 90 percent in reading.
Our staff is working collaboratively to meet the needs of our students. Teachers working together as they continue to improve their instructional strategies make a difference. Much of this work is happening weekly during our Professional Development Wednesdays in every school. I appreciate and recognize the community support as this initiative takes hold.
I strongly believe in continuous improvement. Although our test scores reflect high achievement, we must look at ways we can do more for our students. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the superintendent's symposium in Washington, D.C., in August where U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan spoke at length about the work being done to create national learning standards. Many groups are working together to create these standards, including ACT. Each year, ACT provides a high-stakes test for high school students to assess college readiness.
District 204 is partnering with ACT to be the first in the nation to assess our students from sixth through 11th grade and align our curriculum with ACT. Currently, our students take the Explore test in eighth grade, the PLAN test in 10th grade and the ACT in 11th grade. Through our partnership we will also test students in sixth, seventh and ninth grades. We also will judge our curriculum through common course assessments aligned to the ACT and college readiness standards.
Based on the information gathered, we hope to better prepare our students for the ACT, but more importantly, for the upcoming national standards. ACT is committed to this partnership as we build on knowledge about high performing districts and students.
The District 204 standard has always been and continues to be high academics with great support from our staff and community. As we to work together, we will remain single-minded with the goal being strong student academic performance. We will build successes by challenging all students to reach their potential. Our lowest performing students will work to meet standards with our highest performing students challenged to far exceed standards. Much work lies ahead, but I have no doubt that the 204 community will collaborate for student success.
Continuing the theme of collaboration, our citizens financial advisory committee is asking the community for forward-looking, creative and innovative ideas that could lead to greater financial efficiency and cost savings for the school district. The committee consists of business-minded volunteers who donate their time to assess and provide feedback about the district's finances. You can share your cost savings ideas with the committee by visiting our Web site, www.ipsd.org, from now until Oct. 15.
• Kathryn Birkett is superintendent of Indian Prairie Unit District 204. Her column appears monthly during the school year.
Test results look good, but always room for improvement
By Kathryn Birkett | Guest Columnist: 9/28/200
Success comes as the result of much hard work. Indian Prairie Unit District 204's academic results are no exception, and there are many successes to celebrate. Our teachers have focused on rigorous curriculum and on each individual student's progress and success. Their efforts are being rewarded.
Our recently released test scores show the district's average ACT score rose from 23.4 to 23.8. This increase is four times the average state increase.
We are very excited about our students' consistent and high achievement across all grade levels on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test. As a district, an incredibly high percentage of our students met or exceeded state standards: 91.2 percent in math, 87 percent in science and 90 percent in reading.
Our staff is working collaboratively to meet the needs of our students. Teachers working together as they continue to improve their instructional strategies make a difference. Much of this work is happening weekly during our Professional Development Wednesdays in every school. I appreciate and recognize the community support as this initiative takes hold.
I strongly believe in continuous improvement. Although our test scores reflect high achievement, we must look at ways we can do more for our students. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the superintendent's symposium in Washington, D.C., in August where U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan spoke at length about the work being done to create national learning standards. Many groups are working together to create these standards, including ACT. Each year, ACT provides a high-stakes test for high school students to assess college readiness.
District 204 is partnering with ACT to be the first in the nation to assess our students from sixth through 11th grade and align our curriculum with ACT. Currently, our students take the Explore test in eighth grade, the PLAN test in 10th grade and the ACT in 11th grade. Through our partnership we will also test students in sixth, seventh and ninth grades. We also will judge our curriculum through common course assessments aligned to the ACT and college readiness standards.
Based on the information gathered, we hope to better prepare our students for the ACT, but more importantly, for the upcoming national standards. ACT is committed to this partnership as we build on knowledge about high performing districts and students.
The District 204 standard has always been and continues to be high academics with great support from our staff and community. As we to work together, we will remain single-minded with the goal being strong student academic performance. We will build successes by challenging all students to reach their potential. Our lowest performing students will work to meet standards with our highest performing students challenged to far exceed standards. Much work lies ahead, but I have no doubt that the 204 community will collaborate for student success.
Continuing the theme of collaboration, our citizens financial advisory committee is asking the community for forward-looking, creative and innovative ideas that could lead to greater financial efficiency and cost savings for the school district. The committee consists of business-minded volunteers who donate their time to assess and provide feedback about the district's finances. You can share your cost savings ideas with the committee by visiting our Web site, www.ipsd.org, from now until Oct. 15.
• Kathryn Birkett is superintendent of Indian Prairie Unit District 204. Her column appears monthly during the school year.