ISBE trains Decatur board on school-improvement process for five intensive schools

Nicholas Seccl, supervisor for school district improvement at the Illinois State Board of Education, told the Decatur Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 25 that continuous school improvement focuses on changing adult practices in schools and requires a four-year, staged approach of planning and implementation for schools in "intensive" status.

The training explained the state's five designation categories, the Title I Part A Section 1003 funds available to designated schools, and expectations that intensive schools present progress to their boards three times per year. Seccl said the American Institute for Research (AIR) conducts school-level needs assessments for intensive schools and that Decatur currently has five schools designated intensive: Stephen Decatur (as listed in the presentation), Franklin Grove Elementary, American Dreamer STEM, Muffley Elementary and Hope Academy.

The session was part of a required three-module training for boards that include intensive schools under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Seccl emphasized the structure of the available support…