Statements
Please find our latest statements below.
Advance Illinois Statement on Illinois P-20 Council and EdSystems Framework Report
CHICAGO, IL (November 19, 2020) - Students and educators across the state continue engaging in various methods of learning and adjusting in real-time as the COVID-19 pandemic ravages through our communities with no end in sight.
Contact:
Advance Illinois Communications
communications@advanceillinois.org
CHICAGO, IL (November 19, 2020) - Students and educators across the state continue engaging in various methods of learning and adjusting in real-time as the COVID-19 pandemic ravages through our communities with no end in sight. And, it is clear that the circumstances have made information gathering much more difficult for the state, districts and educators at a time when it is most needed.
The recent report A Framework and Resources for Measuring Student Needs and Development During Remote and Blended Learning by the Illinois P-20 Council and EdSystems provides insight and resources from local and national practitioners and thought leaders on what information schools and districts might find helpful at this time and strategies for gathering it in a way that meets the very different circumstances on the ground. We hope this is a timely resource for our state during these unparalleled times. The report compiles input gathered by the P-20 Council’s Data, Assessment and Accountability (DAA) Committee and is informed by focus groups and roundtables with teachers and administrators. Many thanks to EdSystems for their support in researching and preparing this resource.
Our students are counting on us to give them the best educational experience possible, and we must deliver. The social, emotional, health and academic impacts of this crisis are significant and will undoubtedly be felt for years to come.
At Advance Illinois, we would like to extend our gratitude to parents, educators and workers on the front-lines as they have gone above and beyond to serve their students and their communities. Together, we will work to help ensure a successful future for each student.
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About Advance Illinois
Advance Illinois is an independent policy and advocacy organization working toward a healthy public education system that enables all students to achieve success in college, career and civic life. Since its founding in 2008, Advance Illinois has become a nationally recognized thought leader in education policy advocacy. To learn more, visit advanceillinois.org.
Advance Illinois Statement Regarding the Illinois State Board of Education 2020 Illinois Report Card
CHICAGO, IL (October 30, 2020) - Today, the Illinois State Board of Education released its 2020 Illinois Report Card.
Contact:
Advance Illinois Communications
communications@advanceillinois.org
CHICAGO, IL (October 30, 2020) - Today, the Illinois State Board of Education released its 2020 Illinois Report Card. On behalf of Advance Illinois, president Robin Steans shares the following statement:
“First, I want to applaud ISBE for its transparency and honesty in this year’s report card. We all can agree that 2020 has been a year unlike any other. We know that regardless of best efforts, COVID-19 has made gathering essential data an uphill battle. Advance Illinois commends ISBE for compiling, analyzing, and reporting as much data as possible from the disrupted 2019-2020 school year and for laying out so clearly what data is missing and/or compromised.
There are notable accomplishments in this year’s report card. We applaud the state on its ongoing efforts to integrate new data elements such as Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) and another year of school-level financial data.
As disruptions to in-person learning are ongoing, there is an urgent need to gather the data necessary to understand the pandemic’s effects on Illinois students. In the 2019-20 school year, the state received a federal waiver and understandably did not administer the end of year state assessment this past spring. Looking ahead, we run the risk of another year of massive social, emotional, and academic impact and an even greater need for information we can use to understand how students have been affected and how we can most equitably respond to their needs. We appreciate ISBE’s ongoing work to gather as much data as possible under the circumstances and salute them in their efforts.”
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About Advance Illinois
Advance Illinois is an independent policy and advocacy organization working toward a healthy public education system that enables all students to achieve success in college, career and civic life. Since its founding in 2008, Advance Illinois has become a nationally recognized thought leader in education policy advocacy. To learn more, visit advanceillinois.org.
New Data Show Statewide Snapshot of Kindergarten Readiness Encouraging Progress on Kindergarten Readiness: Still A Long Way To Go
CHICAGO, IL - Data from the statewide Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS), released today by the Illinois State Board of Education, provides a snapshot of the skills of beginning kindergarteners in Illinois in the fall of 2019 and reflects the second consecutive year of increases in kindergarten readiness scores.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
José L. García
jgarcia@advanceillinois.org
CHICAGO, IL - Data from the statewide Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS), released today by the Illinois State Board of Education, provides a snapshot of the skills of beginning kindergarteners in Illinois in the fall of 2019 and reflects the second consecutive year of increases in kindergarten readiness scores. Given KIDS is a relatively new tool, teachers are gaining expertise in observational data collection each year of implementation – making data and trends more conclusive every year.
Over 6,300 teachers observed nearly 120,000 kindergarteners (91 percent of all IL kindergarteners) with the KIDS tool in the fall of 2019. From fall 2018, the number of students scored as demonstrating readiness to learn at a kindergarten level increased from 26 percent to 29 percent, and fewer students were scored as having not reached readiness in any area - down from 39 percent to 37 percent. However, the third year of statewide KIDS data continues to reveal systemic inequities. For example, 23 percent of Black and 17 percent of Latino children demonstrated readiness, compared to 35 percent of their white peers. Significantly fewer children with IEPs (14 percent), English Learners (14 percent), and children qualifying for free/reduced price lunch (20 percent) were scored as “kindergarten ready,” indicating that Illinois has important work to do to close gaps in opportunity and outcomes.
Although it is encouraging to see overall kindergarten readiness numbers grow, it will take more data to draw definitive conclusions about readiness trends in Illinois.
KIDS provides a consistent indicator of readiness across the state, which is a critical starting point in efforts to support and promote more equitable outcomes for children, particularly among communities with the fewest resources. The most recent KIDS data underscores the need for deeper investment in high-quality early childhood services for children before they enter kindergarten, with a specific focus on equity – particularly improving access and quality for children from Black and Latino communities, children from low-income households, English Learners, and students with special needs.
KIDS data also highlights the critical need for the Governor’s Equitable Early Childhood Education and Care FundingCommission. Appointed in December, the Commission is tasked with taking a fresh look at the state's early childhood education and care system and establishing funding goals and mechanisms to provide equitable access to high-quality early childhood education and care services for children from birth to age five. The Commission’s recommendations to the Governor in January will represent a critical milestone towards ensuring all children are ready for kindergarten.
Having standardized kindergarten readiness data has already catalyzed significant systems change across the state. Examples abound of how use of KIDS has prompted shifts from half-day to full-day kindergarten, driven a move toward more developmentally-appropriate play-based instruction, informed adjustments to curriculum, galvanized community-wide attention to critical impact of experiences of children prior to kindergarten, and fostered stronger relationships between preschools and public schools.
Looking forward, now more than ever, educators will need to understand what their students know and are able to do, as children enter school with disrupted preschool experiences due toCOVID-19.
We applaud the continued collaboration between educators, ISBE, public policy makers, advocates and researchers as they work through the challenges presented by COVID. In the meantime, we are glad to have information that can be used to strengthen and connect the systems, investment and learning that happens in early childhood programs through transitions into kindergarten and the early elementary grades.
The 2019-2020 Illinois Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) Report: A Look at Kindergarten Readiness provides additional information about the KIDS fall 2019 data. Visit https://www.isbe.net/kids to learn more about KIDS.
This statement was released in collaboration with other partner organizations. For a full list, click here.
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About Advance Illinois
Advance Illinois is an independent policy and advocacy organization working toward a healthy public education system that enables all students to achieve success in college, career and civic life. Since its founding in 2008, Advance Illinois has become a nationally recognized thought leader in education policy advocacy. To learn more visit advanceillinois.org.
Advance Illinois Statement on Education Trust’s “Segregation Forever” Report
CHICAGO, IL (July 23, 2020) At Advance Illinois, we know that the future viability of our state relies on an education system that works to overcome historic inequities by providing exceptional opportunities for all students.
CHICAGO, IL (July 23, 2020)
At Advance Illinois, we know that the future viability of our state relies on an education system that works to overcome historic inequities by providing exceptional opportunities for all students. However, a recent report published by the Education Trust reveals a persistent and severe underrepresentation of Black and Latino students in higher education. The report, “Segregation Forever,” shows that the representation of Black and Latino students in the country’s top public colleges and universities has decreased or remained disproportionately low in the past 20 years.
We are deeply concerned to learn that, according to the report, the enrollment of Black students at some of Illinois’ top public universities has decreased over the last 20 years. According to the report’s methodology for evaluating student representation, both the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) earned grades of ‘F’ for Black enrollment. And while UIC should be commended for maintaining its ‘A’ rating for Latino enrollment, UIUC earned an ‘F’ rating for Latino enrollment.
While we have stellar public institutions in Illinois, these scores are a clear reminder that they, as well as public education advocates and policymakers, have much more work to do to ensure that these campuses reflect the diverse population of the state. Using this study and other tools as guideposts, Advance Illinois will continue to work with our partners in education and civil rights to advocate for greater access, enrollment, retention and completion of Black and Latino students in state-funded colleges and universities. Together, we must do all that we can to increase the presence of diverse students on our college campuses.
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About Advance Illinois
Advance Illinois is an independent policy and advocacy organization working toward a health public education system that enables all students to achieve success in college, career and civic life. Since its founding in 2008, Advance Illinois has become a nationally recognized thought leader in education policy advocacy. To learn more visit advanceillinois.org.
Contact:
Roderick K. Hawkins, Communications Director
rhawkins@advanceillinois.org
José L. García, Communications Associate
jgarcia@advanceillinois.org
Advance Illinois Honors the Life and Legacy of Maria Whelan
CHICAGO, IL (June 11, 2020) We are heartbroken to learn of the sudden passing of Maria Whelan, President and CEO of Illinois Action for Children. Maria made it her life’s mission to advocate for children and families across Illinois, and what a champion she was!
CHICAGO, IL (June 11, 2020) We are heartbroken to learn of the sudden passing of Maria Whelan, President and CEO of Illinois Action for Children. Maria made it her life’s mission to advocate for children and families across Illinois, and what a champion she was! She was a titan who believed deeply in the power of early childhood education and care and in the value of involving communities and families in the work.
Maria was a giant in the field of early childhood, but also a fierce, funny and warm friend and colleague. Her legacy will live on through her family, her colleagues and the hundreds of thousands of lives she has changed for good, and she will be deeply missed by all fortunate enough to know her. One of the best tributes we can all offer is to carry her work forward with the same level of integrity, fearlessness and no-nonsense she brought to every situation and challenge.
All of us at Advance Illinois extend our hearts and condolences to Maria’s family, the Illinois Action for Children family and all who called her a friend and colleague. It is hard to imagine this work or this world without her energy in it.
Robin Steans
President
Advance Illinois
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About Advance Illinois
Advance Illinois is an independent policy and advocacy organization working toward a health public education system that enables all students to achieve success in college, career and civic life. Since its founding in 2008, Advance Illinois has become a nationally recognized thought leader in education policy advocacy. To learn more visit advanceillinois.org.
Contact:
Roderick K. Hawkins, Communications Director
rhawkins@advanceillinois.org
José García, Communications Associate
jgarcia@advanceillinois.org