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District reports midyear growth but flags math proficiency and new state IAR changes
Summary
District presenter summarized midyear benchmark and state-assessment data showing growth in many grades—especially ELA and kindergarten—but lower math proficiency and concern about new Illinois accountability targets that raise state thresholds; leadership plans to raise issues at a state meeting.
A district presenter told the Bethalto CUSD 8 board that midyear benchmark and state-assessment data show growth across grade levels but leave “a lot of room to grow” in proficiency, particularly in math.
The presenter said the district uses FastBridge three times a year to track proficiency and growth and that growth metrics are weighted heavily in the state report card. "When I look at it again from a district perspective, it still leaves a lot of room to grow," the presenter said. She noted kindergarten growth was encouraging—about half of kindergartners are making stronger-than-expected progress—but that math proficiency trails ELA in many grade bands.
The board was told winter benchmark timing (assessments given right before winter break) can depress midyear percentages and that spring results will give a clearer outcome picture. The presenter also reviewed historical IAR cohort tracking and said the state has raised some target rates (for example, the third-grade target rose), which could push districts into different accountability categories.
Board members and building leaders pressed on the differences between the earlier state tests and current high-school measures, noting the ACT-style items at the high school level and data-collection challenges. Attendance and an illness-related drop in seat time were raised as operational factors that can affect both learning and assessment outcomes.
The board said it will watch spring data and return to the topic; district leadership also said it will bring more detail about proficiency and growth splits when the spring benchmarks are available.
