By Todd Wineburner

Student achievement is a top-of-mind issue at Pontiac schools. Earlier this week, the state board of education announced that 82 percent of Illinois schools aren’t making adequate yearly progress under current standards. In District 429, local numbers were presented at the last board meeting and Superintendent Kevin Lipke says they’re misleading. Some district schools were categorized as not making adequate progress, even though there had been significant growth in several areas. Lipke says district 429 schools are working on curriculum changes and other improvements to serve students, in spite of the fact that current standards are unrealistic.

In District 90, Superintendent Jon Kilgore is considering incorporating test preparation more seamlessly into the curriculum as one tool to improve scores. Kilgore says giving students simulated testing opportunities gives them more confidence during actual testing, and gives important student progress data to school officials.