Monthly Highlander
October 31, 2023
Illinois Report Card Results
Illinois Report Card Results
The State Board of Education (ISBE) has just released on their website on Oct 30th at www.illinoisreportcard.com the annual Illinois Report Card which outlines our academic progress for the 2023 school year.
There are 8 indicators that measure a school’s performance along with a Summative Designation. Each school receives a Summative Designation, as a measure of academic performance and student success. There are five Designations: Exemplary, Commendable, Targeted, Comprehensive, and Intensive. Our two schools as identified by the state (ISBE), PMSA and Proviso West received a Designation of Commendable and Proviso East received a Designation of Targeted. The Designations are based on 5 academic performance indicators and 3 school quality and student success indicators. The 8 indicators are Graduation Rate, Science Proficiency, English Language Arts (ELA) Proficiency, Math Proficiency, English Language to Proficiency (EL), 9th Grade on Track, Chronic Absenteeism, and Culture and Climate.
In 2019, our graduation rate was 76% and it increased to 88% in 2023 making significant gains. Our 9th Grade on Track also increased from 73% in 2019 to 74% in 2023.
Three areas of focus that we must concentrate on moving forward are ELA, Math and Science Proficiency. In 2019, ELA Proficiency was 16% and we are now at 14%, showing a decline of 2% in three years. In math in 2019, we were at 13% and we dropped to 9%. Our Science Proficiency in 2022 was 30% and we declined to 20%.
In 2019 EL Progress to Proficiency, the percentage of students achieving Expanding/Bridging performance level was 11%. In 2023 our EL scores increased to 12% as well as our population increased from 12% to 19%.
We also experienced a decline in our attendance. In 2019, we were at 86% and in 2023, we are at 77%; Chronic Absenteeism increased from 47% to 66% in 2023; Chronic Truancy increased from 31% to 63% in 2023.
*Please note this data in this report is based on three year data due to the pandemic in 2020.
We believe that every student can learn and be successful if given the opportunity. We need to prepare our students to be college and career ready but also work force ready. We will continue to hold high expectations for our students.
Regarding Career & Technical Education (CTE) and Dual Enrollment, we had 716 industry certificates earned by our students increase to 2,001 certificates which prepare students for jobs right out of high school. This number will continue to increase as our CTE program expands and continues to grow leaps and bounds.
The Illinois Report Card informs us and allows us to reflect on our past historical data; it tells us that there is work to be done. If we continue to do the same thing, we will get the same results. We must commit to a new positive trajectory that incorporates into our Strategic Plan, focusing on academic achievement and student support. We must promote a strong foundation of higher order thinking which gives our students Rigor, Relevance and Relationships in our new Academic Framework.
I am confident we can get there together. This is only the beginning of our challenging journey ahead. Through our relationships, our partnerships, our community engagement, our foundation schools, our team building, our Board of Education support and their tireless work on committees, we will persevere. Proviso Township District 209 will rise again!
Students Learn Importance of Manufacturing Industry
In celebration of October's National Manufacturing Month, Proviso West CTE students, district administrators, and community leaders met and listened to Terry Iverson, President of Iverson & Company and the founder of ChampionNow!, about the vast opportunities and importance of the manufacturing industry. During Mr. Iverson's presentation, students learned about the evolution of the manufacturing industry and how pursuing a career in the industry can be a different post-secondary opportunity than attending a traditional college.
"The importance of students getting involved in a manufacturing program lies in the fact that for a generation and a half, manufacturing was not deemed as an important career," said Iverson. "The older generations are now moving toward retirement, and it's crucial to fill those gaps. There are openings in this field that will be very valuable positions."
Mr. Iverson, who has been a part of Iverson & Company for over 43 years and founded ChampionNow! in 2012, also spoke upon acknowledging and encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in manufacturing, as well as taking advantage of all the now-available resources out there.
"Young people, especially women and people of color, aren't choosing not to pursue manufacturing careers. They just need to know that they are out there! There are so many resources from podcasts to YouTube videos and books, well beyond just what myself and my company have to offer."
Among those in attendance were Acting Superintendent Dr. Bessie Karvelas, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Sharon Williams, Board of Education Vice President Mr. David Ocampo, and Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and Proviso Alum Mr. Emanuel "Chris" Welch. Mr. Welch took a moment to address students by acknowledging several local manufacturing companies.
Today's event concluded with awards and OSHA certifications for several students. CTE teacher April Senase was very proud to announce and acknowledge the accomplishments of her students and hopes they continue in the career field.
Superintendent Jack Baldermann Enhances Proviso High Schools with PLC Expertise
Throughout the month of October, Westmont School District Superintendent and consultant with Solution Tree, Jack Baldermann visited all three Proviso high schools in order to meet with teachers during their common duty to discuss PLCs (Professional Learning Community) at work.
Mr. Baldermann will be returning to our campuses throughout the school year to guide and facilitate our teachers and building leaders, so teachers can maximize their collaboration on student work and common outcomes.
Jack Baldermann has been a passionate educational leader for over 30 years. His experience includes leading several high-poverty urban schools to significant success and supporting eight different priority or high-poverty schools to become Model PLC at Work® schools.
The district is grateful for Mr. Baldermann's leadership.
Students Complete PSAT and NMSQT Testing
PSAT testing for Proviso students and incoming freshmen was held through the month of October. District Coordinators said testing went smoothing, especially at our area foundation schools.
Freshmen, sophomores and juniors at each Proviso campus took a practice SAT, while Juniors took the NMSQT in order to enter into the National Merit Scholarship program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships.
This was the first time that all testing was taken in a digital format.
