ByMichael J. Petrilli and Brandon L. Wright
Illinois’ plan to hold schools accountable for student outcomes does some things right, and is a significant improvement on the state’s previous framework, but it doesn’t do enough to meet the educational needs of high achievers — especially those growing up in poverty.
The plan, submitted this month to education secretary Betsy DeVos as part of the state’s obligations under the new federal education law the Every Student Succeeds Act, suffers from the legacy of its predecessor, No Child Left Behind. That law created incentives for schools to focus their energy on helping low-performing students get over a modest proficiency bar, while neglecting those who were likely to pass state reading and math tests regardless of what happens in the classroom.
A strong accountability system signals to schools that the progress of all students is important. And a number of elements of Illinois’ plan do this, including its adoption of annual summative school ratings, a commitment to growth for all elementary and middle school students, and the decision to encourage high schools to help able students earn college credit before they graduate via Advanced Placement programs and the like. But it’s not enough, and three key improvements would ensure that every Illinois student, including each low-income high achiever, receives a high-quality education…
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— Michael J. Petrilli and Brandon L. Wright are president and editorial director, respectively, of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.