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U-46 equity update: assessment gains reported, district outlines strategies to reduce special-education disproportionality
Summary
The district's Equity & Innovation department reported multi-year gains on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness across several subgroups and outlined targeted strategies to reduce disproportionality in special-education identification; staff announced HBCU and HSI tours for students in late February 2026.
District equity leaders presented a multi-part update Dec. 15 describing organizational structure, assessment trends and targeted programming.
Dr. Johnson and Equity & Innovation directors summarized performance trends on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) and said most student subgroups showed increases in the proportion meeting or exceeding proficiency over a five-year span. The presenters cited specific subgroup gains (for example, two-or-more-races and white student groups showed double-digit percent increases in some windows) while noting disparities persist and continued targeted support is needed.
Amanda Leatherby, director of specialized student services, briefed the board on Indicator 10, which measures disproportionate representation in special education. She said Illinois uses a risk ratio of 3 as the threshold for significant disproportionality and that, if identified, a district must reserve 15% of IDEA funds for CCEIS. Leatherby reported that, in fiscal year 2026, that reserve would amount to $1,200,000 for U-46 and that the district has identified early-intervention and professional-learning strategies intended to reduce over-identification (expanded CPI training, restorative practices, early-learner coaching and family engagement specialists).
The equity team also described district initiatives: AMPED UP (an early-engagement strategy for African American males in pre-K that transitions into Brothers Rise Up mentorship), I Am Lead (expanded girls’ leadership groups), and Contigo (a renewed Hispanic family-engagement council). Equity staff said district-wide sense-of-belonging survey scores rose modestly from 46% to 49% in the most recent Panorama survey.
Directors announced the fourth annual HBCU tour (Louisiana and Mississippi) and an HSI tour (California) scheduled for Feb. 26–Mar. 1, 2026.
Why it matters
Assessment gains suggest progress toward the district strategic plan, but the Equity & Innovation directors emphasized the need to close persistent gaps and to ensure supports are targeted to groups experiencing disproportionality in special-education identification.
What’s next
Staff will continue implementing the interventions outlined — including early intervention, restorative practices and expanded family engagement — and will report progress in future board updates.
