[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6341718,"mediaKeyId","2256446-3cfff33ab3cada984a244dad5ba6cafe","parentId",2256446,"title","District reports modest academic gains, equity gaps; middle school cohort shows strongest improvement","audioSeconds",947,"startMs",1732000,"endMs",2679000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256446-3cfff33ab3cada984a244dad5ba6cafe&start=1732&end=2679","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256446-3cfff33ab3cada984a244dad5ba6cafe/thumbnail_1732000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6341718/Illinois/District-reports-modest-academic-gains-equity-gaps-middle-school-cohort-shows-strongest-improvement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341718-cb62531e7f206df3d0027320e61abdc6/orig.mp4?Expires=1776243187&Signature=TyBBpqtl1RtZkNS3DAZZLUFxVVjDZJ1asVpjH3~vX0d3BjsH4S25u9PJGRVCYtmt8WftCR3WPGzOX9u8ZKEXtkjCAzhB3t5P8kWbmdIat0HZPhbbnKiH0dsheMltIh3ccPjgd~JRpE908OXP0w0C70gdf2eBBkh-BuJviid3Gez~9iNw0N6nVRFRzvHmVSGltJuzo9Dt5tBhlDSX2BJdWKehpn~12olu5mHNXseT5iAd-VUeS-iyzMJMhAhvQ~FSRMO-FoUklv86Xa6DKrZmfR77cyK2NOlRAqV4zX5UDUOmnhWnwkk6dw0ePsijBTT9w4nKfQf9Ft3JzLkhEqz49Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Evanston CCSD 65","date","2025-02-10T22:06:45Z","article","District staff gave an update on the Equity Progress Indicator (EPI) and strategic‑plan metrics, reporting progress in middle grades, declines in high‑level behavior incidents districtwide and mixed academic growth in early grades.

The presentation covered three broad areas: learning conditions, student learning and a new set of early‑childhood assessments at JEH. Presenters said districtwide attendance is close to the district target, behavioral incidents at higher intensity (level 3–5) have declined over three years, and a cohort of eighth‑grade students showed measurable gains in math percentile ranking from 56 to 67 over two years.

Staff reported the district’s attendance goal is 95 percent and said current district attendance is 93.8 percent, slightly improved from the prior year. The district is tracking behavior intensity and suspension rates; presenters reported the district suspension rate as “below 2 percent,” noting a current figure of 0.01 percent in the winter snapshot presented to the board. Staff also said the total number of students with individualized education plans (IEPs) decreased from roughly 1,600 to about 1,000 over a recent period and that high‑intensity behavior incidents for students with IEPs dropped from about 360 to 301.

Presenters identified equity concerns that require attention. On the Panorama student survey, fifth‑through‑eighth‑grade sense of belonging rose to 58 percent positive responses (the highest recorded in the district’s reporting), but staff highlighted a subgroup finding: about 21 percent of Black or African American students in that sample reported lower belonging (they “do not belong” or “only belong a little”), which staff said remains significantly higher than other groups. Black and African American students continue to account for a disproportionate share of behavior incidents even as overall incidents decline.

On student learning, staff said kindergarten and first‑grade phonics outcomes showed strong percentages meeting or exceeding expectations in both English and Spanish (first‑grade phonics roughly mid‑60s percent; kindergarten phonics/word recognition about 74 percent). Winter‑to‑winter growth rates in math and language arts declined compared with prior year winter snapshots: the winter growth rate in math dropped from 69 percent to 49 percent and language arts from 62 percent to 53 percent in the district’s winter-to-winter snapshot, which staff flagged for follow‑up.

Donna (presenter for the EPI report) explained the district’s first year with standards‑based grading in middle school and compared trimester grades to projected IAR proficiency (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) using NWEA MAP linking studies. In most middle‑school grade/subject combinations she reported reasonable alignment between standards‑based grades and projected IAR proficiency, with the exception of sixth‑grade math where trimester grades showed more students “meeting/extending” than the projected proficiency suggested.

The JEH early‑childhood team reported early results from a new universal screener, Cognitive Toy Box, a five‑minute game‑based assessment aligned to standards and used to supplement the district’s observational teaching strategies assessments. Narsha Pari, director of early childhood programs at JEH, said fall results showed 60 percent of students meeting age expectations, with noted strengths in executive functioning and vocabulary and areas for growth in reading comprehension and lower‑case alphabet recognition. Midyear rescreening showed gains in vocabulary and quantifiers and modest growth in lower‑case alphabet performance; staff said they are using the results to guide embedded family activities, paraprofessional training and targeted teaching strategies.

Trustees and staff discussed several follow‑up items: (1) disaggregating cognitive‑toy-box and other assessment results by race, IEP status and multilingual learner status; (2) investigating the winter‑to‑winter slowdown in growth rates; (3) exploring whether the decline in high‑level behavior incidents reflects changes in reporting, improved classroom de‑escalation (CPI) training, or other school‑level practices; and (4) continuing program evaluation for new positions such as face liaisons and counselors. The board asked staff to make data and dashboards accessible to school leaders and to return with school‑level breakdowns where trends appear notably stronger or weaker.

Board members praised the middle‑school gains and urged that the district study what is working in the higher‑performing middle‑school cohorts so those practices can be replicated in younger grades. Staff said program‑evaluation work is under way and will include annual formative metrics and more formal 3–5 year summative reviews.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","[2/10/25] D65 - Committee of the Whole Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","District staff gave an update on the Equity Progress Indicator (EPI) and strategic‑plan metrics, reporting progress in middle grades, declines in high‑level behavior incidents districtwide and mixed academic growth in early grades.","taxTitle","Evanston CCSD 65, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",50856,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6341723,"District debates future of Early Head Start partnership as SAP 3 review begins",5543,861000,6404000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256446-3cfff33ab3cada984a244dad5ba6cafe&start=861&end=6404","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256446-3cfff33ab3cada984a244dad5ba6cafe/thumbnail_861000.jpg","/articles/6341723/Illinois/District-debates-future-of-Early-Head-Start-partnership-as-SAP-3-review-begins","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341723-889b6663ce4e845463f0d220211a578a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776243187&Signature=aW5o2ia4i2FCvYDyukhRiPTeYmoMk1zWzcrA9oGRxuxOstP8KaSpVSAAOIxuxztKMHY7XE~8n~-UspZGCpaC8rBcKR26Ix4L2RTFGBN12egYlw4UBA7Z2D3gigwPOK5dpTDXQjC4Ys8ZsR1RL0u-4nGIcjJEnoG9bi7UKzqjJXGkR-~SrV5Z5cEU8r4P9y8mOmvmcOkRdO~oGH6jF3GNiKsYbD-7AOOz73FX6Q3Rto8Dhru0oY-5ALTw7eDT~ZM-KoDcHsN6gWpOh~xTSPycj5Kwz-eXv-MCMiwj5bi0TIuN0gQoEWd4IZl6piajTgKwpAyQ~pwpaKY3O5kpeUdLOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Evanston school district leaders presented three options for the district’s subrecipient contract with the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston (IWSE), an Early Head Start partner, as part of the district’s SAP 3 review of early childhood programming.

The district framed the matter as a choice among renewing the five-year contract, extending it for one year while the district completes SAP 3 and structural deficit planning, or ending the partnership this school year; staff emphasized risks tied to enrollment shortfalls, federal grant uncertainty and legal/reputational disputes that have arisen during the 10-year relationship.

District staff said the review grew out of two factors: (1) a routine five‑year federal grant renewal cycle for the Early Head Start award, which requires clarity about subrecipient arrangements when the district files its application; and (2) the district’s concurrent structural deficit reduction planning, which increases sensitivity to long-term financial commitments. Dr. Shamika McCoy summarized the evaluation and said under-enrollment and health‑services compliance are principal compliance risks when a district manages subrecipient funds. Principal Parham and members of the grant compliance team (Alexandra Ware and Katrina Jones) reviewed historical points of friction and the operational burdens of sustaining a subrecipient relationship during budget stress.

Representatives of Infant Welfare Society of Evanston spoke during public comment. Diana Newton, director of communications and development at IWSE, described the organization’s 112‑year history, its early‑childhood services for vulnerable families in Evanston and Skokie, long staff tenures at the agency and its role in delivering family‑focused services that the district does not provide in-house. Newton asked the board to consider the local value of the partnership and the agency’s capacity to help during federal funding instability.

Board members expressed a consensus that immediate termination of the partnership (option 3) would be disruptive for families and staff. Several trustees said they were open to a shorter extension than the standard five‑year renewal to preserve flexibility while SAP 3 completes its recommendations. Board members asked staff to present an additional option — a two‑year extension with a firm decision point — and for staff to clarify the precise grant deadlines and the dates by which IWSE would need notice to apply independently for federal funds.

Staff said the Early Head Start grant application would be due to the federal agency in March–April and that subrecipient identity and service‑area details must be set when the application is filed. District staff also warned that a five‑year commitment could create heavy financial risk if federal funding were reduced or eliminated.

The board did not vote on the subrecipient arrangement at the Feb. 10 meeting. Trustees asked staff to return to the board with a revised set of options (including a potential two‑year extension with a clear decision point) and a timeline that accounts for grant filing deadlines and the district’s structural deficit process.

The board and staff said they expect SAP 3 work — including community engagement about full‑day expansion of early childhood seats — to continue through March and into the summer, with any recommendation for long‑term changes returned to the board before new contracts are finalized.","District staff presented options to continue, shorten or end a 10-year subrecipient relationship with the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston as part of a larger SAP 3 review of 0–5 programming and early childhood expansion; board members asked for more time and clearer timelines before deciding.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6341704,"Votes at a glance: Committee of the Whole, Feb. 10, 2025",9233,787000,10020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256446-3cfff33ab3cada984a244dad5ba6cafe&start=787&end=10020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256446-3cfff33ab3cada984a244dad5ba6cafe/thumbnail_787000.jpg","/articles/6341704/Illinois/Votes-at-a-glance-Committee-of-the-Whole-Feb-10-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341704-2e2f22803b5f68437da88a7791bdeabd/orig.mp4?Expires=1776243187&Signature=KP0bEOMYhQo9r5B4P5D9UBq9SIQrcw~4iR4xSQAcf4786dFCMj0J6aZXYakTPYesyVP0r7tuUilPksz3dQ3ZsB5lR9UAzC1cOeeGR5388MaMYvhB4MNNHf69I-vTpXitE9Dv~0tl7arMQWqIhJTvl2xHb7WAyaIs9uSIArLKU2PX82a1NdkfbwxYcNodwfpzkkOIzdYy5dD5yLVMzXv0d0H6zTDNg0XfUeIFEpLc3cPHDjDTzAEdAiT5zqgcyEE8M~BcC0OpBis9sZ7Z77fPVMYxuvETjJ1XzuevXEvRAWqfdVDdCyz3WbtjkkL6AhFP2G6yWupm4Y4MFEsRyAk07g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Feb. 10 Committee of the Whole meeting, trustees recorded several routine approvals and one consulting contract vote. The board’s formal votes and outcomes recorded during the meeting were:

• Meeting agenda: Motion to approve the Feb. 10, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting agenda as presented. Outcome: approved. (Motion moved and seconded during roll call.)

• January 2025 Committee of the Whole minutes: Motion to approve the January 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting minutes as presented. Outcome: approved.

• Intergovernmental agreement for road salt and brine procurement: Motion to approve participation in the city’s road‑salt and brine procurement/storage arrangement. Outcome: approved.

• Structural Deficit Reduction Planning (phase 3) consulting services: Motion to approve a contract with Student Center Services LLC to support phase‑3 work (structural deficit reduction planning) as presented, not to exceed $56,000. Outcome: approved.

Other agenda items discussed at the meeting — including the PowerSchool Sys data‑breach update, the SAP 3 early‑childhood partnership discussion, the EPI/standards‑based grading update, and the demographic study and phase‑3 planning — were presented for discussion and follow‑up; no binding votes were taken on those items during the Feb. 10 meeting.","The board approved the meeting agenda, January Committee of the Whole minutes, a city intergovernmental salt procurement agreement, and a not‑to‑exceed contract for structural‑deficit planning consulting services; other agenda items were discussion only.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6341708,"Demographer forecasts fewer school‑age children; board begins planning path toward school consolidation",247,8378000,8625000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256446-3cfff33ab3cada984a244dad5ba6cafe&start=8378&end=8625","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256446-3cfff33ab3cada984a244dad5ba6cafe/thumbnail_8378000.jpg","/articles/6341708/Illinois/Demographer-forecasts-fewer-schoolage-children-board-begins-planning-path-toward-school-consolidation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341708-700d1c67c74f8d3bbb4282e4fb85ed76/orig.mp4?Expires=1776243187&Signature=h-HQRmAtwjh3wl1hhAgLXXOHIUOG0fFyhazHJMc8UmIOfvjvAXWhz~TIB4vnGoP4vJJ9VA0apSAe--hRZoMkcDoFpQUt751DnBFr6kbAytq2F5KyMzGzHsUF0vKwAOLlB99firbRyA71ytliE~dGsiIPsrP0kgee2w~p8yXco-spzCg3tpkCgRenh4sJI5LsOM5DbTJhJFZtfBLRnRZgxKQMZTZ6SOFHGrCR3Y49Q-bwP8bk3~WQx3RtXvojQIIDbVgOSM2k2YKtUAUm-AQts8vWE02LR8J3nFAHBF1lWv7uOzWKdSBMfpopjy1C9WASmNibnb7VPpj~MEdrw6hsDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District demography consultants briefed trustees on a newly finalized forecast that projects a net decline in K–8 enrollment and outlined the next phase of work that could identify consolidation or school closure scenarios.

Stacy Goody presented the December 2024 demography report and walked the board through principal findings: the district is forecast to lose about 7.3 percent of K–8 enrollment (approximately 401 students) over the next 10 years, a trend the demographer attributed to an aging local population, lower fertility (resident total fertility rate below replacement), and relatively low housing turnover that reduces the inflow of young families. The consultant noted some neighborhood variation: population can rise in certain feeder patterns while school‑age enrollment declines because median resident age is increasing.

Staff summarized the financial implication the demographer provided: closing a single school building would reduce annual operational costs by an estimated $1.5–2.0 million; that estimate excludes any decisions about property disposition or capital proceeds. The demographer’s tables showed how current attendance boundaries would map to the board‑approved 2026–27 boundaries and provided school‑level enrollment projections under those new boundaries; in some cases a school’s geographic boundary grows while projected enrollment still declines because of overall demographic change.

The superintendent’s advisory group reviewed the data and advised district staff to focus on managing current enrollment rather than “chasing” students who are not present, and suggested the board proceed with caution and community engagement. Staff described a multi‑step process for phase 3 that includes criteria development, scenario modeling, community engagement, and presentation of options that would include cost and capacity modeling. Trustees asked staff to provide interactive boundary and modeling tools so the board and community could see how specific consolidation or boundary scenarios change school enrollments.

Trustees and staff discussed timing and the need to align demography work with the district’s structural deficit planning. Staff noted they will bring scenario options and modeling outputs to the board in the coming months and said they will coordinate community engagement before any vote on school closure or consolidation. No closures or program changes were approved at the Feb. 10 meeting.","A district‑commissioned demographic study projects a 7.3% decline in K–8 enrollment over the next decade driven by an aging population and lower birth rates; staff said closing a school would save about $1.5–2 million in operational costs and outlined a phased process for community engagement and scenario modeling.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6341713,"District notifies families after PowerSchool Sys breach; Experian identity‑protection option offered",186,5965000,6151000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256446-3cfff33ab3cada984a244dad5ba6cafe&start=5965&end=6151","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256446-3cfff33ab3cada984a244dad5ba6cafe/thumbnail_5965000.jpg","/articles/6341713/Illinois/District-notifies-families-after-PowerSchool-Sys-breach-Experian-identityprotection-option-offered","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341713-2db2fe6a0f0c95666007fc6dfc706297/orig.mp4?Expires=1776243187&Signature=mg6CSMM1yacdbZPWvX3yx0gV5x7f6iUCZKnw7ywtXS~mMMH~LksN~FCqT68PfpWzebZ8ijP17nvncLI~lhVCBiiQGy1or15AlMfr4px4D8IcutnunBE~iLkcp5sNNejVIdnnWRLsTAo~woHGWyIj3-P34XdIPjezxFReufWgAgu2O5Zx0u6Q1Y9R9lYOorUgan0L5ojg6PKWjnLyQ-qATp-IT1jtR05S8-g0HgPNmA~GsxYVKHFweOlpx2PeUdMMGhz8PyK~wGN~ktBLzsnCiaskiQ~v34OZ6AZOPrcsVSu8LqPSUEhvITsjJy-fxaBAPXmadd3UDiowmZwOe~jk6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff briefed the board on a data security incident involving PowerSchool Sys and described steps the district took to notify affected families and staff, to comply with state law and to open an insurer claim.

Staff said the district sent two email notices (one in January and a second on Feb. 4) to current families and to former families for whom the district had contact information. The communication stored a copy of the notice in students’ digital records in compliance with the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPA). The notice described the incident, listed the types of data involved and offered two years of Experian identity‑protection services; families must opt in online or by phone and have been given a May 30 deadline to accept the offer.

District staff said they opened a claim with the district’s cybersecurity insurance provider (through the insurer/claims administrator named in meeting materials) and have been sharing documentation of vendor and district communications with the claims team. Staff also posted the full breach communications and links to enrollment for identity protection on the district’s Student Online Privacy and Safety page.

Board members asked whether an absence of email meant a family was “in the clear.” Staff said they notified all current families on file and all former families for whom the district had email addresses; if a family did not receive email, staff suggested it was because the district did not have a current or correct email on file. Staff added that a small number of families enrolled after the January notice (about 20) did not receive the initial emails because their records did not yet exist in the system and therefore would not have been part of the data set exposed by the vendor. The district encouraged anyone with questions to consult the Student Online Privacy and Safety page and to contact the district communications office for help enrolling in the identity‑protection service.

No vote or formal board action was taken. Staff said there were no out‑of‑pocket costs to families to enroll in the Experian service and that the district has been coordinating with the insurer.","District staff said a vendor (PowerSchool Sys) experienced a data breach; the district posted notices required under the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPA), opened an insurance claim and offered two years of identity protection through Experian for affected families who opt in by May 30.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District reports modest academic gains, equity gaps; middle school cohort shows strongest improvement

District debates future of Early Head Start partnership as SAP 3 review begins

Votes at a glance: Committee of the Whole, Feb. 10, 2025

Demographer forecasts fewer school‑age children; board begins planning path toward school consolidation

District notifies families after PowerSchool Sys breach; Experian identity‑protection option offered