By KEVIN BESSLER
Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) — A group of Illinois education organizations have unveiled their plan for the future of Illinois schools.
It’s called Vision 2030 and revolves around three education pillars, including future-focused learning, shared accountability and predictable funding.
Brent Clark, executive director of the Illinois Association of School Administrators, said Vision 2030 was developed with four goals in mind.
“We want to keep students safe, we want to have high-quality professionals in front of them as teachers, we want to enhance their post-secondary opportunities and the success they can have from those opportunities, and finally, we want to effectively measure what’s working in schools in a timely manner so we can make adjustments and make it even better,” said Clark.
More than 100 people helped develop Vision 2030, aided by surveys completed by more than 1,000 educators around the state.
The plan proposes measuring student success over time rather than one annual standardized test.
“Just like children’s physical growth, academic progress does not always happen in a linear manner, both growth and proficiency should be measured over time within and across grade levels,” said Jason Leahy, executive director of the Illinois Principals Association.
Since much of the plan requires legislation, Clark admits it could be some time before students see the effects of Vision 2030.
“It will not be done in one legislative session,” said Clark. “We’ve laid it out to occur in about six legislative sessions, and we’ll be working with a wide group of stakeholders, legislators and the governor’s office.”
In 2012, Vision 2020 was released which led to major changes in education, including the creation of the state’s evidence-based funding formula.
“Vision 2030 seeks to put systems and processes in place that support all school districts throughout the state in sharing what works for our kids and our communities, while also preserving local flexibility and leadership so that the best decisions are made closest to home,” said Kimberly Small, executive director of the Illinois Association of School Boards.
