A Message from the Superintendent
October 30, 2023
Dear Winnetka Families and Staff,
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has publicly released the annual Illinois Report Card today, October 30, at www.illinoisreportcard.com. The Illinois Report Card shows how well our schools are progressing on a wide range of educational goals. A portion of the Illinois Report Card is based on performance on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), which is only given to students in grades 3-8 each spring. The IAR is one of many data measures, quantitative and qualitative, that we use as a district to assess the growth and achievement of our students. To learn more about how we are utilizing student growth and achievement data to set goals at the district and building levels, take a moment to review our Annual Goal presentation and District Improvement Plan/School Improvement Plan presentation shared with the Board in September and October, respectively.
One component of the Illinois School Report Card is the annual summative designation (introduced in 2018)– a descriptor of how well each of our schools are meeting the needs of all students based on a number of indicators. The report has been improved this year in order to provide greater detail as to how designations are assigned by the state. Each school receives its own summative designation.
While we continue to utilize student growth and achievement data to guide instructional decisions on behalf of our students, it should be noted that an area in which Winnetka has great potential to improve is related to attendance. The state designates chronic absenteeism as absences exceeding 5% of the school year. Historically, Winnetka’s schools have regularly seen 5% or higher in absenteeism, even pre-pandemic. Regular attendance is a critical component to a student’s ability to grow and achieve. This year we have adapted our attendance policy. Families with students exceeding the 5% absenteeism threshold will receive a written communication from the school. We seek to partner with families to ensure all students are afforded the greatest opportunity for regular exposure to daily instruction.
Below is a longitudinal chart of our schools’ designations since 2018. Illinois schools were exempt from receiving designations in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
Ultimately, our community can be proud of the work that has been done with and for our students while still remaining committed to continuous growth and improvement. We remain in the top performing tier of districts in the state, and look forward to the exciting work ahead that will only help our students to grow and achieve their greatest potential. We thank you for your support and partnership, as a strong report like this is as much a positive reflection of the community as it is the schools.
Most Sincerely,
Dr. Kelly Tess
Superintendent of Schools