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District highlights student achievement gains, notes funding adequacy at 76% and state cut-score concerns
Summary
District leaders presented the Illinois School Report Card for 2023-24, reporting gains in proficiency and growth, increased enrollment and student needs, a tier-1 evidence-based funding status at about 76% adequacy, and noting the state superintendent plans to revisit Illinois's high proficiency cut scores.
A district presenter reviewed the 2023-24 Illinois School Report Card and related district metrics, emphasizing both academic gains and continuing needs. The presenter noted statewide progress in English language arts proficiency and other indicators and said the district saw growth in ELA and math while enrollment rose to 7,206 students last year.
The presentation detailed demographic and need indicators: more than 60% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch, about 14% were served by special education and roughly 18% were multilingual learners; the homeless rate was reported as 0.7 percent. The presenter also highlighted staff metrics, saying certified teacher numbers were roughly 450 and reported teacher retention of about 94 percent.
On funding, the presenter said Moline-Coal Valley remains a tier-1 district under Illinois evidence-based funding and is operating at about 76 percent adequacy, with a district per-pupil expenditure near $15,000. The presenter raised an issue about Illinois's high proficiency cut scores and quoted the state superintendent's intention to address cut-score alignment: the state superintendent, Tony Sanders, "plans to address the cut scores" in next year's report card, the presenter said, adding that potential changes could increase the share of students labeled proficient.
Board members asked about alternate measures such as MAP benchmark data; the presenter said MAP data are used locally and that the administration would provide benchmark numbers to the board on request.
The presenter also described district improvement supports for schools identified for school improvement, named peer districts chosen by research partner ECRA for comparison, and outlined next steps on Vision 2030 materials the state is circulating for board consideration.
