District 210 curriculum and assessment staff reported progress on strategic-plan goals including a district literacy plan, dual-credit offerings and career and technical education enrollment trends. The presentation was informational and the board received updates on student pathways and partnerships.
Staff said the district used an Illinois State Board of Education grant to support district literacy planning and that a stipend supported a former reading chair to lead the effort. Curriculum staff noted changes in freshman reading enrollment tied to recent placement law changes and said the literacy plan is intended to ensure students receive developmentally appropriate critical-thinking and literacy instruction across grade levels.
On postsecondary planning, staff reported that last year 78% of students indicated plans to pursue a four-year degree and an additional 7% planned two-year degrees, for an aggregate of about 85% indicating college as a goal. Curriculum staff also highlighted increases in certain CTE areas: business, auto and welding enrollments grew districtwide, with welding at Lincoln Way West singled out for strong demand.
The district also reported growth in its teaching-internship program (44 students districtwide) and the addition of the first dual-credit culinary course. Staff invited the community to district-wide events, including a college fair at Lincoln Way Central that expanded from about 118 colleges last year to 145 this year, and noted membership in the Will County Center for Economic Development to expand paid internship opportunities for students.
The board received the report as informational and asked for continued tracking of enrollment trends and how student career goals align with staffing and program decisions.