Kaneland outlines multi-tier ACT prep strategy as Illinois shifts from SAT to ACT
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
District leaders described classroom-aligned approaches, department-level ACT materials, homeroom support and outside provider options (fee-based) to boost students’ ACT performance; administrators emphasized a long-term focus on classroom instruction and data monitoring.
Kaneland CUSD 302 administrators presented the board with a multi-pronged plan to support students as Illinois transitions the statewide accountability test from the SAT to the ACT.
Doctor Horn (high-school administration) summarized district efforts that began in 2025: districtwide professional development for staff to experience the test, department-based ACT-aligned materials (English vocabulary and practice, math ACT-style problems, social studies integration), homeroom sessions four days a week devoted to test strategies, and partnerships with outside providers such as Excel Edge (a seven-session program with graded practice tests) and Club Z (a shorter boot-camp style option).
Horn said the district is also piloting literacy tools and considering an additional fall pretest for juniors at district expense; outside providers cited in the meeting charge families fees (Excel Edge ~ $375; Club Z ~ $109 per student). Board members asked how the district will evaluate effectiveness; Horn said the focus is on data collection and iterative instructional changes, noting that building strong classroom instruction over years is the priority.
The discussion included questions about access and equity for families who cannot afford fee-based prep, and the administration said it will explore district-supported options such as in-homeroom offerings, but that additional funding and more detail would be required before committing to expanded district-paid programs.
Administrators framed the approach as both short-term (prep sessions) and long-term (alignment of standards across grades), and noted the district's recent performance relative to state benchmarks.