4/4/2019 State Board approves 13 Exemplary and Commendable schools as IL-EMPOWER Peer Learning Partners

Approved schools will share expertise with others in need of improvement

SPRINGFIELD— The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has approved 13 Exemplary and Commendable schools as IL-EMPOWER Peer Learning Partners. These 13 Peer Learning Partners will join the current network of vendors available to provide services for professional learning and school improvement to schools that received an Underperforming or Lowest-Performing designation in the state’s support and accountability system. Peer Learning Partners give schools identified for improvement the opportunity to work alongside educational leaders who personally faced and overcame challenges like theirs.

“We are grateful to have so many stories of success in Illinois’ schools and such willingness among school leaders to share their expertise with others,” said ISBE Executive Director of IL-EMPOWER Allison Sherman. “Illinois’ peer-to-peer learning structure grows from the belief that some of the best professional development occurs when peers share proven, effective practices.”

The addition of Peer Learning Partners to the vetted IL-EMPOWER network leverages the deep expertise in Illinois’ schools to support students in the greatest need. Each Lowest-Performing school receives at least $100,000 in federal school improvement funding and must work with an IL-EMPOWER Learning Partner of their choice. Each Underperforming school receives a minimum of $15,000 and has the option of working with an IL-EMPOWER Learning Partner of their choice.

Each school identified for improvement engages local stakeholders in a collaborative and data-informed needs assessment to identify a priority area of focus. Each school creates a Work Plan for School Improvement and, if applicable, selects an IL-EMPOWER Learning Partner to work with on implementation.

Thirty-five schools applied to become Peer Learning Partners in this first round. The application was open to all schools that received an Exemplary or Commendable designation in the state’s support and accountability system. The first round of approved Peer Learning Partners includes:

Addison Trail High School in DuPage HSD 88 Carterville Intermediate School in Carterville CSD 5 Country Meadows Elementary School in Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 Gower West Elementary School in Gower SD 62 Henning Elementary School in Triad CUSD 2 Ivy Hall Elementary School in Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 Jane Addams Middle School in Valley View CUSD 365U Kildeer Countryside Elementary School in Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 Prairie Elementary School in Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 Twin Groves Middle School in Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 Unity Point School in Unity Point CCSD 140 Warrensburg-Latham Elementary School in Warrensburg-Latham CUSD 11 Woodlawn Middle School in Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96

ISBE used a comprehensive vetting process to carefully review each application. The process included evaluating each applicant’s evidence for:

Achievement of historical success in identified school improvement efforts and sustaining this success over time; Articulation of a strong plan to support peers in designing, implementing, and monitoring continuous school improvement strategies/programming over time; and Current school achievement as measured against success indicators within Illinois’ Every Student Succeeds Act support and accountability plan.