By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – President Donald Trump’s new interpretation of federal education policy, to give more authority to individual states, isn’t changing Illinois’ new school master plan.
Illinois always planned to flex its own muscles over its own schools.
Jackie Matthews, a spokeswoman for the Illinois State Board of Education, said Trump’s decision to change how his administration interprets the Every Student Succeeds Act isn’t changing Illinois’ school master plan.
“The (new) federal regulations won’t affect the path that Illinois is on,” Matthews said. “From the beginning of this process, we’ve been looking to the intent of the law and the letter of the law.”
The state’s new master plan will dictate to local schools how Illinois measures everything from test grades, to school performance, to how different students are learning.
The Trump administration’s new guidance is to let states use their own measuring sticks, rather than strict national regulations.
“Our stakeholders are clear. A system based on punitive measures or based on the rankings of schools doesn’t serve the best needs of educators, and schools, and communities,” Matthews said.
Illinois’ new master plan will change how schools are ‘graded’ by the state.
Local schools will see pieces of Illinois’ new master plan when students return in the fall.
The Illinois State Board of Education unanimously approved the plan Wednesday. Illinois will submit it to the U.S. Department of Education early next month.
