[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,76,88,99,111],{"_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",6269103,"mediaKeyId","3047983-6261bdc344e1184c7f1087bb9be112bf","parentId",3047983,"title","WeGo reports high freshman chronic absenteeism; deans use prom/homecoming eligibility to prompt interventions","audioSeconds",395,"startMs",5257000,"endMs",5652000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3047983-6261bdc344e1184c7f1087bb9be112bf&start=5257&end=5652","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3047983-6261bdc344e1184c7f1087bb9be112bf/thumbnail_5257000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269103/Illinois/WeGo-reports-high-freshman-chronic-absenteeism-deans-use-promhomecoming-eligibility-to-prompt-interventions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269103-19fdf1b3ce09d356d2f16b4611670ad3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773567759&Signature=HyQvywigFXMWXN41h-x4uiyjWw7IILNqw68lUwvgn~0AMh-0rSrdWh~wJJtn4dMWLhw~9YTLjkoarO-qnBtX0mQIyaTdYsuJjt-8d9MUpf2Sr~lNrB~ROLn0APak8KJkdxzmreJb3UpD~MsaDM3iPr8HPsjcj0kc-5L9eeKRvwxB4ts6KH2Dcqfuw8G57uRvC14Zq04y9kwu~c9anscjaVPU-UZexIcjSOUB5T7-XLy~EiErGArC~tbf3RgEnednm-rgJbqTFUv2PQImsqmfrnRpYAw8y2468BAuDRkBjQPONBx~uvQVzSZfhT99IO-MYONKuq8Uz~nOFfkC9VDApg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CHSD 94","date","2025-04-17T13:53:30Z","article","At the April 16 PTAC meeting, West Chicago Community High School administrators reported that 28.8% of freshmen are chronically absent this year and described tactics including individualized letters and social consequences for event eligibility to prompt family engagement.

Administrators defined chronic absenteeism using the state standard: missing 10% or more of the school year for any reason. The meeting packet showed freshmen at 28.8% chronically absent; administrators noted a trend where freshmen rates often improve in sophomore year (citing prior classes as examples).

To address attendance, administrators said they sent individualized mailings to families showing excused and unexcused absences and are prioritizing intensive casework through the new Family Outreach Coordinator. Deans said they also began enforcing event eligibility (homecoming and prom) based on unexcused absences and tardies; students who did not meet criteria were required to meet with deans and, in some cases, bring parents to regain eligibility.

\"I need you to communicate with us. Like, what's going on? Are you struggling? Are you working?\" one administrator said of the dean outreach. Staff noted that excused absences and mental-health days count toward chronic absenteeism in state calculations, but they do not count against event eligibility when the school applies separate unexcused thresholds for homecoming or prom.

PTAC members discussed incentives versus consequences; some proposed raffles or rewards, but administrators said evidence is mixed and suggested case-by-case family interventions are most effective for sustained improvement. Proposed ideas included study tables before after-school practices and tighter expectations for den study periods.

Ending: Administrators said attendance remains an ongoing challenge and urged families to communicate early so staff can create plans to restore attendance and support student success.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","PTAC Meeting - 4/16/2025 @7:00pm","oneSentenceSummary","Administrators reported freshmen chronic absenteeism at 28.8% as of early April and said the school is using individualized outreach and event-eligibility policies (homecoming, prom) to prompt communication with families and increase attendance.","taxTitle","CHSD 94, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",54687,"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},6269108,"West Chicago High scales holiday meal packs into permanent program after PTAC proposal",131,4967000,5098000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3047983-6261bdc344e1184c7f1087bb9be112bf&start=4967&end=5098","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3047983-6261bdc344e1184c7f1087bb9be112bf/thumbnail_4967000.jpg","/articles/6269108/Illinois/West-Chicago-High-scales-holiday-meal-packs-into-permanent-program-after-PTAC-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269108-343a6399fdd3108997ac4a696359d794/orig.mp4?Expires=1773567759&Signature=oI5Y6OrEBYF0PQ63lBc6QYvNA6oajQYYUOmobYN1hI-sVMM7264gi-P0qgZYLheTXXRRo-cJxQsAWucl0MO6ZtdSQaBhvrkyUYvGxIkCerdS4Unf5taA92k4wVptcs6v9oCXjqXb~EIf~lHBv7ZPYbH8RN7hyKbSd7BYbTxipfld0CiO41VIVTZHbDpRfBxSr6cFgHe-7xkuI3ozyUUntIyIP6YzEopbsqc42hsBh3h0TVxFXELfSr7w~twUxisa-udmz8vIT21uOzkqWNMFm323QRnOQPlicqwxiQq5rXSn-cD3GyRx9kdcAmEhyxHT~iSSCwh~tTvBw5gwZVGlgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Administrators told PTAC on April 16 that the holiday meal-distribution program, which began as a PTAC idea, delivered about 6,400 meals this school year at a cost of roughly $50,000 and will continue as a regular school-funded service.

School leaders described distribution tallies included in the meeting packet: 440 meal packs (about 1,760 meals) at Thanksgiving, two winter distributions (double-counted in the packet) and 600 meal packs (2,400 meals) at spring break. The administration said the total distributed this year was nearly 6,400 meals and the program cost \"about $50,000.\" The food-service partner prepares and packages the meals for distribution.

Administrators said the program was moved from a volunteer-led effort with the West Chicago Food Bank to a district-backed, contracted service to provide reliable capacity. The food-service vendor (referred to as the Quest in the meeting) prepares and freezes the meal packs and works with school staff to distribute them as students leave school.

The administration emphasized there is no eligibility check: any family who needs food can take meals. Staff said they have not seen stigma associated with the distribution and praised student behavior during past events. \"We haven't seen a single moment of a student saying something or belittling another or any kind of negativity,\" an administrator said.

Ending: Administrators said they plan to continue and expand meal distributions and thanked PTAC members for the idea that led to an institutional commitment to food support.","Administrators told PTAC the school distributed about 6,400 meals across Thanksgiving, winter and spring holiday programs this year at a cost of roughly $50,000, and said the holiday distributions will continue as a regular school investment rather than ad hoc volunteer efforts.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6269113,"School expands family outreach, tests parent cafes and considers on-demand workshops",0,2911000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3047983-6261bdc344e1184c7f1087bb9be112bf&start=2911&end=2911","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3047983-6261bdc344e1184c7f1087bb9be112bf/thumbnail_2911000.jpg","/articles/6269113/Illinois/School-expands-family-outreach-tests-parent-cafes-and-considers-on-demand-workshops","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269113-4a0184bd88760b0554256e78aa274cbf/orig.mp4?Expires=1773567759&Signature=FfYq52koQeN1~IR9xuUpWdDLnTFzgL2J~k4-oaYENEpVp4ss-CFpbHnpRg1L16q5zDdLtp6gKYeb-9JWhdYw2dvMkeXRLUNZgeKiEaT0jdYG0iC8zwOdsqizYuXR3nLGbR4FniCcrYgob7lj-Scg1zKNotkmb2YbfWsPVK-w9TXQ1V2bKGN-zQlxQB8adbygW~DdHmnglg915svfHCih09YPafa53oHZdccimdXc-oG4XkEz57Z2Gevf4Thm8-Df6mB6gF0jwRJmJc9h0oHyV2Z4SFd0CX3vXFIwDXPiJ0~8jJsLJNgoBg~nB7ZkRIx38ZotT1bsOk0oZUMiYazUkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","West Chicago Community High School leaders told the PTAC on April 16 that a newly created Family Outreach Coordinator position has begun in-person parent cafes in Spanish and English and that administrators plan more flexible, on-demand parent engagement options next year.

The coordinator — a district staff member formerly with District 33 — ran two small parent cafes earlier in April, one in Spanish and one in English, to let parents discuss topics at small tables. \"It went really well,\" an administrator said, noting turnout was modest but participants reacted positively.

Parents suggested multiple formats to increase engagement: live sessions scheduled at varied times, Zoom sessions, recorded on-demand videos broken into short segments, Spanish- and English-language options, and short 15-minute modules parents can fit into work breaks. Several parents recommended practical subjects, such as executive-functioning and organization strategies, study skills, and parental controls for phones.

Students and parents also suggested using den announcements and classroom reminders to reach students and recommended administrators post short social-media-friendly clips so busy parents will see them. One parent recommended demonstrations of parental-control features (for example scheduled downtime) so caregivers can set boundaries at home.

Administrators said they plan to sustain the Family Outreach Coordinator role and try Zoom and recorded options next year; they encouraged PTAC members to propose topics and said they will share recordings and resources in multiple languages when possible.

Ending: Administrators asked PTAC members to suggest topics; next year’s parent-engagement plan will include both in-person cafes and on-demand resources to reach families who cannot attend live events.","Administrators said the new Family Outreach Coordinator has begun Spanish- and English-language parent cafes and the school is considering recorded, on-demand workshops, Zoom sessions and targeted topics like executive-functioning skills to reach busy families.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6269118,"Wego administrators plan rollout for proposed Illinois classroom phone restrictions",520,3005000,3525000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3047983-6261bdc344e1184c7f1087bb9be112bf&start=3005&end=3525","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3047983-6261bdc344e1184c7f1087bb9be112bf/thumbnail_3005000.jpg","/articles/6269118/Illinois/Wego-administrators-plan-rollout-for-proposed-Illinois-classroom-phone-restrictions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269118-cd3f716cb737c8a4afb72e814dede998/orig.mp4?Expires=1773567759&Signature=aqcTO3BrTRpgcBrHVuj3fbaGAzz2vfCZym-8i77SoWKcvYvizPzyh8eVCjTyPhDTiNMAsce~Me0YarXJGEFSsq7OgH89bMhBdsQCrD6Ng8aHg90vSoOzvu3B~XRTpTxYjWvw3~Yy64wRKrjLILJ4GvrbbB9ODJeetXK-1JfFN-rhMlncMZ7TL2apJgG9wQPbT8D9vkTOiUR8KDOv6JZNv~fuJa1~M0JJyQ-VTzz44Vey6LHqDZQCEKTftcxF58S3X3pAzsuzJbq~iZ7IwyuCKocmhCfT~fsakECpp~bAAfQ5OLRb7PldDCGk92bOMWZwIIuESfXTMKCKI2msjRj~uA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","West Chicago Community High School administrators and PTAC members discussed at their April 16 meeting how the school would implement a proposed Illinois policy requiring public schools to adopt wireless communication-device restrictions during classroom instructional time.

Meeting leaders summarized the governor’s proposal as requiring a schoolwide policy limiting personal devices during class, with explicit exceptions for emergencies, teacher-authorized educational use, licensed physician determinations for health needs, accommodations under an IEP or 504 plan, and English-learner access. The administrators emphasized the state guidance discourages punitive discipline that escalates to exclusionary measures or law-enforcement involvement.

The meeting chair (identified in the transcript only as the meeting convener) framed the local challenge succinctly: \"Schools, you have to have this policy, but you can't enforce it too hard...they want their cake and they want to eat it too.\" The chair and staff discussed practical implementation options already in use at WeGo, including classroom storage (shoe racks, wall hangers or clear bins) and classroom-by-classroom teacher practices that would likely be standardized.

Dean Janet Hurtado described the school’s current enforcement sequence: teacher redirection, parental contact, and, if behavior continues, office referrals. \"If it continues to be an issue after that, then typically that's where the referrals begin,\" she said, noting relatively few formal referrals specifically for phones this year.

Students and parents generally supported a uniform classroom restriction. Student speakers recommended rolling the change out before the fall in den sessions and through announcements and suggested teachers rehearse the new routines; one student urged face-to-face den messaging so students \"really recognize, like, wow. This is really happening.\" Parents suggested communicating directly with families and offering tutorials on phone parental controls, such as scheduling downtime, so families can support boundaries at home.

Administrators said the district is close to the procedures the law would require and intends to communicate changes to families before summer. \"If there are students who are gonna have a hard time separating from their phone... we can kind of tackle it a little bit earlier,\" Hurtado said. Ending: Staff said the plan will emphasize consistent, non-punitive enforcement, widely communicated to students and families, with an eye toward student mental-health and classroom engagement goals.

","Administrators and PTAC members discussed a proposed Illinois requirement for schools to adopt wireless-device restrictions in classrooms, how exceptions would work and how West Chicago Community High School might implement storage-and-exception procedures before next school year.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6269123,"Wego to revise 90/10 grading policy after three-year pilot; parents, teachers and students cite unintended effects",1150,391000,1541000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3047983-6261bdc344e1184c7f1087bb9be112bf&start=391&end=1541","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3047983-6261bdc344e1184c7f1087bb9be112bf/thumbnail_391000.jpg","/articles/6269123/Illinois/Wego-to-revise-9010-grading-policy-after-three-year-pilot-parents-teachers-and-students-cite-unintended-effects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269123-02cbf044d0d6380ca342841f03eb5e99/orig.mp4?Expires=1773567759&Signature=U3mrNRzFGgrxPcwWroTe181Td9jL7Ah1ciXrIl6yS2ZCEJDzsH~w9tb~biJspduvgYo9zgHLdWwi2QDKFZfSQdfSrTubbPfqAnMu4mjcr4qSBwEEffiL~OaKKt94wCA7Ss~VvW-p8nderXZdozBDaiiqvRhbEdFeQ-QA2Bj-3y-FLkmj0ixGFKld7CGalDYo6W4hWB0rqRpABgG6vHvl~E3fTVVF~sUY59rU286r6nqBhuI5sPJkaOdBRov44i2Yggm97qXM1n9ZqkLOhbkaqblGCyKNbGeQkWLfr~9ULCAp7-Hmmrg-rLxg6FYkyD4f-KynX4QrWpdc6dYn6GYV~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the West Chicago Community High School parent-teacher advisory committee meeting April 16, 2025, Assistant Principal Mary Howard said the school will revise its 90/10 grading split for next school year after three years piloting grading practices based on Grading for Equity.

Howard told the group the district began reviewing grading practices in 2022 “following the pandemic” and adopted a model that weights 90% of course grades to summative assessments and 10% to practice and participation outside classes, with guaranteed opportunities to retake summative assessments. \"Our goal would be that every grade was as completely accurate as possible,\" she said.

Howard said teacher feedback during the pilot raised consistent concerns. Among them: students postponing or not engaging in practice because retakes are available; increased cramming before assessments rather than long-term retention; declines in organization and executive-functioning skills; and particular worry that frequent retakes in honors and Advanced Placement courses could fail to reflect students’ readiness for AP exams in May. \"If you're retaking an AP test for every unit, is that not a problem?\" Howard quoted teacher feedback.

Teachers and students described how retake opportunities are handled in classrooms. World languages teacher Britney Nelson said retake eligibility is decided on a course-team basis and she reviews initial assessments with students to identify gaps before permitting a retake: \"We do go back and look at all the practice and anything that was missing.\" Science teacher Alexandra Parker described common retake preparation practices including review packets and required self-reflection on tests.

Students and parents offered mixed perspectives. Student Sneha George said she values retakes in exam-heavy classes but acknowledged time-management problems at home: \"I like having the retake option for classes that are, like, heavy, like, exam based.\" Parent Kelly Ashline and others urged the school to increase the weight on practice or create a separate \"work habits\" rubric to capture perseverance and organization.

Howard said the school has collected limited parent survey feedback (28 parent responses to date) and will reissue the survey and run a similar student survey during den time. She described planned changes for next year as moving some weight from summative assessments toward practice work to incentivize consistent engagement without reversing the research-based emphasis on assessments.

Discussion points included clarifying retake prerequisites, classroom implementation differences across course teams, and how to support students with study skills through den, academic support and tutoring. Howard highlighted Panorama social-emotional survey results showing high levels of trusted adult support at home and in the building and said attendance remains a related priority.

The school plans further staff discussion and community outreach before finalizing the revised policy for 2025–26; Howard asked PTAC members to encourage families to complete the forthcoming survey.

Ending: Howard said the changes are intended to \"find that spot, where we can reengage students while still...emphasize that the best way for us to capture what they've really learned is through the assessment.\" She asked parents to continue conversations at home about study habits and resources available at the school.","At an April 16 PTAC meeting, Assistant Principal Mary Howard said West Chicago Community High School will revise its 90% summative/10% practice grading structure after staff and community feedback flagged negative effects on student study habits, executive functioning and Advanced Placement preparation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

WeGo reports high freshman chronic absenteeism; deans use prom/homecoming eligibility to prompt interventions

West Chicago High scales holiday meal packs into permanent program after PTAC proposal

School expands family outreach, tests parent cafes and considers on-demand workshops

Wego administrators plan rollout for proposed Illinois classroom phone restrictions

Wego to revise 90/10 grading policy after three-year pilot; parents, teachers and students cite unintended effects