Donna Cross, executive director of Research, Assessment, Accountability and Data (RAD), presented District 65’s SY 24–25 Achievement and Accountability report to the Committee of the Whole on Sept. 8.

Cross said preliminary assessment results show gains in the percent of students meeting college‑readiness benchmarks linked to the SAT for grades five and eight; math met the district’s 50 percent SAT‑linked benchmark at 51 percent, while language‑arts SAT‑linked benchmarks had “gradual progress.” Cross noted the IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) preliminary results showed 54.6 percent of students met or exceeded expectations in language arts (just under the 55 percent goal) and more gradual progress in math. She warned the IAR results were preliminary and final results were expected in one to two weeks; the report will be updated as needed.

Cross described the district’s plans to improve data transparency: RAD will publish an annual achievement and accountability report, quarterly progress updates, an interactive data dashboard launching in winter (live, updated enrollment/attendance/assessment data), and a strategic‑plan scorecard.

On growth metrics, Cross said the percent of students meeting expected growth from spring to spring declined slightly in ELA but showed a larger decline in math. Trustees asked what is driving the language‑arts improvement; district leaders said the district has aligned practice to the “science of reading,” completed curriculum adoptions and increased professional learning. For math, leaders described recent curriculum changes and the adoption of diagnostic tools (i‑Ready and Renaissance STAR) and committed to focused school goals, increased use of individualized pathways and “build‑thinking‑classroom” practices to accelerate math growth.

Cross also reviewed learning‑conditions indicators: average daily attendance rose to 93.7 percent districtwide, with several schools close to a 95 percent target and one school exceeding it. The percent of students with Level 3–5 behavior incidents (more serious) decreased 41 percent in total incidents though the percentage of Level 3–5 relative to all incidents rose because total incidents fell more sharply. RAD reported disproportionate representation among students receiving out‑of‑school suspensions: 70 percent of students with out‑of‑school suspensions were Black, 47 percent had an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 82 percent received free/reduced lunch; RAD and school leaders described de‑escalation, re‑entry meetings and targeted social‑emotional supports (face liaisons, counselors, social workers) as strategies.

Cross highlighted “elevating educators” measures; the district reported improvements in collaborative teachers and effective leadership indicators (5 Essentials recalibration narrowed comparisons to the most recent two years). Cross also said more than 450 educators participated in summer instructional‑technology professional learning across digital literacy and AI topics.

Why it matters: The report frames the district’s priorities for facilities right‑sizing, sustainability and reinvestment, while presenting the initial student performance picture used to set school goals and to inform curriculum and intervention decisions.

What’s next: Final IAR results will be incorporated into the published report when available; RAD’s interactive dashboard and strategic‑plan scorecard are coming this winter and quarterly progress updates will be provided.