1. March 17, 2010

2. 2 Presentation Team Christopher A. Koch, Ed.D. State Superintendent of Education Audrey Soglin Executive Director, Illinois Education Association Miguel del Valle Advisor to the Governor & Chairman, Illinois P-20 Council Susie Morrison Deputy Superintendent, Illinois State Board of Education Darren Reisberg Deputy Superintendent, Illinois State Board of Education

3. 3 Illinois’ Reform Vision Critical focus of Illinois’ RTTT actions is—above all—impacting classroom instruction: –Providing tools and support to empower teachers and principals –Creating systems to define expectations, accurately measure performance and broaden accountability Illinois is targeting the weakest areas of the system to maximize impact: –Priority Schools (bottom 5%) –Critical transitions across the P-20 spectrum Sustainable reforms only occur through a deliberative process involving all key stakeholders.

4. 4 Momentum for Reform Passed 4 Critical Pieces of Legislation Raised charter cap and exploring alternative charter authorizer Comprehensive longitudinal data system (enables teacher-student link) Allowed independent alternative teacher and principal preparation programs Overhauled teacher and principal evaluations—requires use of student growth; standard framework & rating categories; extensive state supports Convened P-20 Council Executed Strong Administrative Action Revamped principal preparation requirements Significantly raised teacher entry requirements Issued RFP and identified strong Lead Partners for turnaround Executed multi-agency data sharing agreement Illinois’ RTTT plan is not a fresh start, but will accelerate reforms that are underway

5. 5 Illinois’ Reform Goals: “Super LEAs” Super LEA Commitments: (1) Implementation of new evaluation systems in Priority Schools by September 2011 (2) Staffing autonomy in Priority Schools (3) Participate in Illinois Partnership Zone (and agree to autonomies required) Super LEA Requirements: Requires both superintendent and local union leader sign-on LEA must have an Illinois Priority School Super LEAs Community School District #300 De Pue USD #103 Decatur SD 61 Kankakee School District #111 Meridian CUSD #101 Peoria SD #150 Plano CUSD #88 Rich Township HS Dist. #227 Rockford Public Schools #205 School District #U-46 (Elgin) Thornton Fract’l Twp HS Dist. 215 Zion- Benton Twp HSD 126 Super LEAs Community School District #300 De Pue USD #103 Decatur SD 61 Kankakee School District #111 Meridian CUSD #101 Peoria SD #150 Plano CUSD #88 Rich Township HS Dist. #227 Rockford Public Schools #205 School District #U-46 (Elgin) Thornton Fract’l Twp HS Dist. 215 Zion- Benton Twp HSD 126 $26 million set-aside in State RTTT allocation for LEAs agreeing to “bigger, bolder, faster” reforms

6. 6 State Capacity to Drive & Support Reform Full and continued engagement with all key stakeholders Strong leadership by the P-20 Council and State Education Agencies Capacity within ISBE to manage reforms and the partnerships needed to carry them out State and LEAs held accountable through transparent measurement and reporting

7. 7 Impacting Instruction with Real Reforms Common Standards & Assessments Aligned Instructional Systems Programs of Study Assessments for Learning STEM Learning Exchanges Educator Effectiveness Reporting Pipeline Expansion for Hard-to- Staff Educator Positions Strengthen Teacher Induction & Principal Mentoring Preparation Program Requirements & Accountability New, Rigorous Teacher and Principal Evaluations Identify and Report Illinois’ Priority Schools School District Reorganization Direct State Interventions Dropout Prevention and Re-Enrollment Supports Illinois Partnership Zone S TANDARDS & A SSESSMENT T EACHERS & L EADERS I MPROVING L OWEST P ERFORMING S CHOOLS U SING D ATA IN D ECISION -M AKING Learning and Performance Management System Longitudinal Educational Data System Independent Analysis of Performance Evaluation Implementation Illinois Collaborative for Education Policy Research (ICEPR)

8. 8 Impacting Instruction: Instructional Systems & Data Improvements to classroom instruction only happen when… –Instructional systems align with rigorous and clear standards –Actionable data on student performance is accessible Assessments for LearningSTEM Learning Exchanges Platform: Learning and Performance Management System

9. 9 Impacting Instruction: Performance Evaluations Improvements to classroom instruction only happen when… –Teachers & principals engage in meaningful conversations about performance –Effective evaluations inform professional development, tenure, advancement, and dismissal A strong foundation for evaluation reform: –Extensive use of Danielson –CPS: Excellence in Teaching, Teacher Advancement Program –Evanston/Skokie: Based 50% on growth and 50% on practice

10. 10 Impacting Instruction: Performance Evaluations Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) –All systems must include student growth data as a “significant factor” in all teacher evaluations: –Participating LEAs: Student growth must be ≥ 50% –All other LEAs: Must use State default model evaluation—which bases 50% on growth—if no agreement between LEA and union –Requires evaluator training on conducting evaluations –Principal evaluations that incorporate student growth as a “significant factor” implemented for all LEAs by SY 2012-13

11. 11 Impacting Instruction: Partnership Zone Improvements to classroom instruction in the State’s lowest- performing schools only happen when… –On-the-ground capacity is built to implement a coherent, whole-school intervention model –Conditions to attract, support, and retain great teachers and leaders are established Illinois Partnership Zone: –Pre-qualified Lead and Supporting Partners with autonomy and accountability for results –Commitment by LEA, Partners, and unions to focus on teacher and school leader effectiveness –Comprehensive criteria for school culture and climate, social supports, instructional reform, extended learning time, and operating flexibility

12. 12 Impacting All Illinois Communities & Students Participating LEAs (#) Statewide (#) % of Total Statewide LEAs36686942.1% Schools2,4833,91063.5% K-12 Students 1,536,8062,070,12574.2% Students in poverty 723,188888,71981.3%