Peoria Standard

Illinois State Board of Education met Feb. 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. Roll Call

Chair of the Board Dr. Steven Isoye called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.

Chair Isoye announced that the Board meeting was being audio-cast live over the internet and video recorded.

Chair Isoye asked the clerk to call the roll. A quorum was present with five members attending in person. Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders also was in attendance.

Members Present:

Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Board

Dr. Donna Leak, Vice Chair

Dr. Sherly Chavarria

Laura Gonzalez

Dr. Patricia Nugent

Members Absent:

Dr. James Anderson

Roger Eddy

Dr. Anna Grassellino

Staff Present

Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent

Jo Ireland, Board Services Coordinator

Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent

Isabel Schoeman, Special Assistant to the State Superintendent

Kristen Kennedy, Chief Legal Officer

Dr. Jason Helfer, Chief Education Officer – Instruction (virtual)

Jennifer Saba, Chief Education Officer – Operations

Dr. Matt Seaton, Chief Financial Officer

Tassi Maton, Chief Internal Audit Officer

Edobor Efam, Chief Information Officer

Irma Snopek, Chief Policy and Communications Officer

Miguel Calderon, Chief Operating Officer

Lindsay Record, Press Secretary

Dr. Ronda Dawson, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning

Joyce Gronewold, Executive Director of Specialized Instruction

Dr. Erica Thieman, Director of CTE

Emily Fox, Director of Educator Effectiveness

Dr. Nakia Douglas, Director of Special Education

Derreck Langwith, Director of ROE/ISC

Dana Stoerger, Executive Director of Legislative Affairs

Joanna Clyde, Director of Multilingual/Language Development (virtual)

Nick Heckel, Supervisor of School/District Improvement (virtual)

Dr. Tiffany Burnett, Executive Director of Safe and Healthy Climate (virtual)

Dr. Nikki Combs, Director of School/District Improvement

2. Swearing-In of Board Member(s)/Roll Call (as needed)

The swearing-in of Board members was unnecessary.

3. Public Participation

Chair Isoye reminded those in attendance of the Public Participation Policy and the sign-up procedures for today’s meeting.

Ruth Whitehead, co-founder and president of Pegasus Manufacturing, spoke on Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding for Galesburg Area Vocational Center (GAVC). Ms. Whitehead described her company’s close relationship with GAVC to build a talent pipeline and ensure students have real-world opportunities in advanced manufacturing. She additionally described Pegasus and GAVC’s paid apprenticeship program, which allows students to gain hands-on experience beginning in their junior year of high school. Ms. Whitehead stated that demand for trained workers in advanced manufacturing is higher than ever, and to meet community needs, further investment in programs like GAVC is necessary. This funding would be used to update equipment, expand course offerings, and strengthen partnerships with community leaders. It would serve as an investment beyond education in the state economy as well.

McLain Schaefer, director of the Leaders Innovating for Tomorrow (LIFT) Area Career Center in Mattoon, spoke on CTE funding. Mr. Schaefer thanked the Board members for their continued support and funding for CTE, including the $10 million increase in CTE funding the year prior. He advocated for an additional $10 million increase in the CTE line item for the FY 2026 budget and the creation of a $25 million line item for CTE and Area Career Center capital improvements. Mr. Schaefer articulated that increased funding would allow for CTE program expansion to meet the needs of the community, adding that rural schools face funding barriers in sending their students to Area Career Centers and other schools are left out of programming. He identified this as an equity issue that must be addressed, and he said that increased funding would create a strong worker pipeline for businesses and change students’ lives. He closed by thanking Dr. Sanders, Chair Isoye, and members of the Board for their impact on students.

Jo Ireland reminded listeners that they can email additional comments to her at bireland@isbe.net, and she will share those comments with the Board.

4. Presentations

A. PEAC Presentation

Chief Education Officer of Instruction Dr. Jason Helfer introduced Dr. Larry Frank and Dr. Carrie Hruby, co-chairs of the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC), for the first presentation. He thanked Dr. Sanders and the Board for the opportunity to present on the recommendations resulting from the American Institute of Research (AIR) Evaluation Report, which was shared on the ISBE website in June of 2024. He outlined PEAC’s duties developing resources and guidance for the implementation of principal and teacher evaluation in Illinois, and he highlighted Illinois’ unique system of allowing local autonomy in deciding these procedures.

Dr. Hruby thanked Dr. Helfer and his staff for their patience in working with PEAC and noted that the council is entirely composed of volunteers. She detailed that the strengths of the current evaluation system found in the AIR report are local district control and a focus on coaching and educator development. She stated that the AIR report noted challenges of the current evaluation system as well, including that it is extremely time intensive and that districts should tailor their evaluations to local needs within ISBE guidance. Dr. Hruby stated that the change in Section 24.A of the School Code eliminated implementation of PEAC work, limiting its scope to solely work with ISBE to provide training and retraining for evaluators. She noted there is new legislation, Senate Bill 0028, sponsored by Illinois Senators Kimberly Lightford and Meg Loughran Cappel that amends the School Code to state that beginning on July 1, 2025, each school district may incorporate the use of data and indicators on student growth in rating teacher performance and evaluation, rather than compelling it as is currently done. This change would allow the joint committee to make the decision of whether and how to make use of student growth indicators.

Dr. Frank shared that PEAC is in the process of revising the administrative academy, which provides pre qualification trainings for teacher evaluators. He additionally updated the Board that PEAC is transitioning to the newest Danielson framework in training evaluators and assessing the classroom performance of teachers. The council also is focusing much more on coaching and development of teachers, as well as considering metrics of student growth. He said that PEAC members are looking into specialists to support them in their work, such as determining if there are better ways to evaluate specialty teachers like bilingual educators or special education teachers. He thanked the Board members for listening and invited their questions.

Dr. Donna Leak shared a continued struggle in school districts of identifying supports for non-classroom teachers, such as social workers, guidance counselors, and co-teachers for special education. She emphasized providing clarity for local committees to help guide their decision-making for these roles. Dr Frank appreciated the comment and said these are elements that PEAC hopes to address in the future; he added that Chicago Public Schools has a great system of evaluating specialty instructors that PEAC will likely draw from. Dr. Hruby acknowledged Dr. Leak’s point and suggested it supports an argument for more local control.

Dr. Sherly Chavarria thanked Dr. Hruby and Dr. Frank for the presentation and asked what is substantively different about the updated Danielson framework. Dr. Hruby said the framework has a larger focus now on diversity, equity, and inclusion and culturally responsive classrooms, and a shift in the primary focus of educator trainings and what classrooms should look like. Dr. Helfer said that he could look for a document comparing the two frameworks and share with the Board in a future update. Dr. Chavarria appreciated that possibility if easily done and stated that their explanation aligned with her general understanding and dovetails into considering evaluator bias. Dr. Frank said there is a small group putting together a training on the transition from the old Danielson framework to the new one and promised to share it with the Board.

Dr. Patricia Nugent gave Dr. Frank and Dr. Hruby her appreciation for their volunteer work on PEAC. Other Board members echoed this sentiment, and Dr. Isoye emphasized his understanding of their hard work as a former PEAC member. Dr. Helfer shared that Dr. Frank and Dr. Hruby are stepping down soon from their positions on PEAC and wanted to publicly recognize them, acknowledging Dr. Frank for participating in the council’s work from its start. Dr. Sanders repeated thanks for Dr. Frank and Dr. Hruby. Dr. Hruby acknowledged the other volunteers on PEAC for their hard work and thanked Dr. Helfer and his team once again.

B. CTE: Connecting the Future of Learning Work

Director of CTE Dr. Erica Thieman presented on CTE and Carer and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs).

Dr. Thieman shared her background as a CTE educator and then provided a brief overview of CTE programs in Illinois in the 2023-24 school year. She highlighted impressive program growth in both the number of students participating in CTE and the number of students taking two or more courses in one CTE program. She also shared that the four-year graduation rate for CTE concentrators is 96.1%, compared to 87.6% for all students, including a large increase in the four-year graduation rate for special populations often underserved by CTE programs. Dr. Thieman then explained that CTE both provides work-based learning experiences across seven endorsement areas and also fosters leadership development for students through participation in CTSOs. Dr. Thieman then had seven students from the CTSO Board introduce themselves. The students were Aarav Khullar; Averi Colella, Kavin Ramassamy, Massillon ”Mas” Boyd, Nikitha Philip, Sanvi Maganti, and M.J. Rousseau. They each discussed the wide variety of CTSO activities they take part in and the impact that CTE has had on their lives.

Dr. Thieman asked Aarav and Kavin to describe how their CTE experiences differ from their other academic and extracurricular experiences in high school. Aarav discussed the multitude of opportunities that his CTE classes and CTSO provide in a singular space and the strong support system they provide. Kavin shared about CTE providing him an opportunity to connect with students who align with his own interests and the community he has built by participating in the CTSO. Dr. Thieman then prompted Nikitha and Averi to share about their CTE teachers and CTSO advisers and the ways these figures have supported their growth and decision-making about the future. Nikitha spoke on the high caliber of faculty she has encountered at her high school’s CTE and CTSO programs, highlighting the incredible work of her Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) adviser Tara Pendleton in supporting her to choose a career in business. Averi said that her CTE teachers are the most trusted adults in her high school, and she commended her teachers and CTSO advisers for giving her and her classmates real-world experience and fostering their passions. Dr. Thieman asked Mas and M.J. to tell the Board about the most difficult part of preparing for life after high school and how CTE has helped them, as well as what else schools can do. Mas shared he is figuring out how to continue pursuing his goal of becoming a medical professional after high school and that CTE has helped him to narrow down pathways into medicine going forward. He emphasized his appreciation for the opportunity to take courses through which he can gain a certification, providing him with a tangible benefit that will follow him out of high school. M.J. shared that he has faced difficulty in finding financial aid and scholarship opportunities to pursue his interests after high school, but CTE has given him the skills he needs to best advocate for himself. He provided an example of utilizing Illinois FBLA’s new Internship, Interview, Resume 101 Toolkit to understand how to best present himself as a candidate for various opportunities. Finally, Dr. Thieman asked Sanvi to share what is most important for the ISBE Board members to know about CTE in Illinois from her perspective. Sanvi discussed her experience attending the Illinois Coordinated Council for CTSOs leadership seminar to lobby for the importance of the Perkins Act in the summer of 2024 and noted that while the number of CTE participants has increased in recent years, the number of CTSO participants has declined. She encouraged the Board to prioritize marketing of these programs to make sure all individuals are aware of the opportunities they have available to them, emphasizing that CTSOs give students unique leadership experience.

Dr. Thieman thanked students for participating in the panel and shared how they inspire her. Dr. Nugent commented that her children attended Normal Community High School and appreciated Nikitha’s shoutout to Mrs. Pendleton, as her children speak very highly of her. Dr. Nugent also commended all of the teachers who put in the time and effort to really know their students. Dr. Leak echoed the sentiment that these students demonstrate a bright future, thanked those who shape these students’ lives, and thanked Dr. Thieman for taking on her new role as director of CTE. The rest of the Board members agreed. Laura Gonzalez also echoed what has been said and shared her pride in all of the student panelists. Dr. Chavarria echoed as well. She reflected on Gallup research saying that high school students do not find their learning experiences engaging and said that hearing about these students’ experiences motivates her to ensure that all young people have those opportunities. Dr. Sanders commented that these students’ stories help to dispel myths pertaining to CTE and show that CTE is more than simply teaching a singular technical skill. He noted that he has invited some of the students present to join Board members at the ISBE Student Summit that is going to be held March 15 at Illinois State University. Chair Isoye added that CTE extends beyond the classroom, and it is in the CTSOs that people can see leadership skills shine.

5. Closed Session

Dr. Leak moved that the State Board of Education go into closed session for the following exception items:

A. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)

B. The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5)

C. Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)

D. Meetings between internal or external auditors and governmental audit committees, finance committees, and their equivalents, when the discussion involves internal control weaknesses, identification of potential fraud risk areas, known or suspected frauds, and fraud interviews conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards of the United States of America. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(29)

She further moved that Board members may invite anyone they wish to be included in this closed session. Ms. Gonzalez seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

The open meeting recessed at 9:57 a.m. to go into closed session. The open meeting reconvened at 10:28 a.m.

6. Public Participation

There was no further public participation.

7. Consent Agenda

Chair Isoye reviewed the items under the Consent Agenda. Dr. Leak expressed appreciation for the information provided by ISBE staff members and the ability to review consent agenda items during the committee meetings.

Ms. Gonzalez moved that the State Board of Education hereby approve the Consent Agenda. Dr. Leak seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

The following motions were approved by action taken in the Consent Agenda:

Approval of Minutes

*Plenary Minutes: Jan. 15, 2025

The Illinois State Board of Education hereby approves the Jan. 15, 2025, meeting minutes.

Approvals

*Approval of the Spring 2025 Waiver Report

The State Board of Education hereby approves submission of the Spring 2025 Waiver Report to the General Assembly.

*Approval of Cut Scores for the Social Science-History and Early Childhood Education Licensure Content Tests

The State Board of Education hereby approves the panel-recommended cut scores for the Early Childhood Education (206) and Social Science: History (315) content exam.

Approval for Publication

*Part 100 (Requirements for Accounting, Budgeting, Financial Reporting, and Auditing) Reporting Requirements & Cleanup

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes solicitation of public comment on the proposed rulemaking for:  Part 100 (Requirements for Accounting, Budgeting, Financial Reporting, and Auditing) Including publication of the proposed rules in the Illinois Register to elicit public comment.

Approval for Adoption

*Parts 228 (Transitional Bilingual Education) and 680 (State Seal of Biliteracy) Cleanup & Proficiency Standards

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to submit the proposed rulemakings for Parts 228 and 680 to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) for second notice.

Further, the Board authorizes the state superintendent of education to make such technical and non-substantive changes as the state superintendent may deem necessary in response to suggestions or objections of JCAR.

Acceptance Items

*Financial Audit of the Illinois State Board of Education Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2024

The State Board of Education hereby accepts the Office of the Auditor General’s Illinois State Board of Education Financial Audit for the Year Ended June 30, 2024.

Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million

*Approval of Truants’ Alternative and Optional Education Programs Grant Notice of Funding Opportunities/Request for Proposals

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to release the Truants’ Alternative and Optional Education Program FY 2026 NOFO/RFP and award funds to successful applicants. The initial term of the grant will begin July 1, 2025, and extend through June 30, 2026. There will be two one-year renewals contingent upon a sufficient appropriation and satisfactory performance in each preceding grant year. The estimated total cost, including cohort renewals, will not exceed $11.5 million in FY 2026.

The State Board of Education further authorizes the state superintendent to execute grant agreements within defined parameters to any entity eligible to receive more than $1 million for a single award or over the life of the grant.

*Approval of Increased Funding to Illinois State University to Administer the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to award additional FY 2025 funding in the amount of $375,000 to Illinois State University to administer the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program.

*Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement with the Illinois Center for Transition and Work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to enter an intergovernmental agreement (IGA)_with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for the Illinois Center for Transition and Work for $1 million in FY 2026. The IGA will be renewable for $1 million per year through FY 2028 for a total not to exceed $3 million over three years.

*Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement with Eastern Illinois Area Special Education for the Specific Learning Disabilities Support Project

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the State Superintendent to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Eastern Illinois Area Special Education in the amount of $2,722,739 for each fiscal year. The IGA is a three-year contract for the Specific Learning Disabilities Support Project, with a total not to exceed $8,168,217.

*Approval to Release and Award the Request for Sealed Proposals for the Behavior Assessment Training Project

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to release and award a Request for Sealed Proposals for a three-year contract for the Special Education Behavior Assessment Training Project. This project will be funded using IDEA Part B Discretionary Grant dollars and not exceed $7.5 million for three years.

8. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of FY 2025 Continuation School Improvement Grants

Dr. Nugent moved that the Illinois State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to release FY 2025 Continuation School Improvement Grant allocations in excess of $1 million from Title I, Part A, Section 1003 funds to the following 21 school districts: Round Lake CUSD 116, Rock Island SD 41, Aurora West USD 129, Kankakee SD 111, North Chicago SD 187, Cicero SD 99, Danville CCSD 118, Joliet PSD 86, Berkely SD 87, Prairie-Hills ESD 144, Aurora East USD 131, Charleston CUSD 1, Calumet City SD 155, Alton CUSD 11, Moline-Coal Valley CUSD 40, Bloomington SD 87, Rantoul SD 137, Chicago Heights SD 170, Freeport SD 145, DeKalb CUSD 428, and Belvidere CUSD 100.

Dr. Chavarria seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote. Dr. Leak abstained.

9. Election of Board Officers – Illinois State Board of Education Bylaws Article IV(A)3 (as needed)

Dr. Isoye reminded the Board that at yesterday’s Education Policy Planning Committee Meeting of the Whole, he asked Dr. Chavarria and Dr. Nugent to work with him to bring forth nominations for the vice chair and secretary positions.

Dr. Chavarria moved that the Illinois State Board of Education elect Dr. Leak as vice chair. Dr. Nugent seconded the motion for nomination of Dr. Leak as vice chair. Chair Isoye asked if there were other nominations. No other nominations were made. Chair Isoye stated that if there is only one nomination for the office, there is no need for a closed ballot. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote.

Dr. Nugent moved that the Illinois State Board of Education elect Dr. Chavarria as secretary. Dr. Leak seconded the motion for nomination of Dr. Chavarria as secretary. Chair Isoye asked if there were other nominations. No other nominations were made. Chair Isoye stated that if there is only one nomination for the office, there is no need for a closed ballot. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote.

10. Announcements and Reports

Superintendent/Senior Staff Announcements

Dr. Sanders shared he has met with many legislators in the past month and thanked ISBE’s Legislative Affairs team for its work at the Capitol to advance the agency’s legislative agenda. He said he was able to attend the Kane County District Superintendent Meeting, visit Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96, and hold a press conference at Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123. He thanked the South Cook Intermediate Service Center (ISC) 4 legislative affairs team for its work at the Capitol to advance a legislative agenda. Dr. Sanders talked about school district visits, thanked South Cook ISC 4 for hosting the first statewide system of support tour, and encouraged those interested to attend future tour events. He also presented at the Lake County Institute Day. Dr. Sanders then recognized Milken Educator of the Year Jessica Wentz, He and Chair Isoye visited her in Washington Grade School District 52. He also recognized the Illinois Teacher of the Year candidates, who he announced last week with Chair Isoye: Amber Sims, Jennifer Gruca, Jennifer Gross, Tracy Selock, Joshua Lerner, Nina McLean, Leslie Rennick, Victor Gomez, Katie Welch, Jessica Suarez, Heidie Dunn, Jena Kleindl, Michele Oberlin, and Comfort Agboola. He added that they will be invited to a reception with the Board in the spring. He concluded by recognizing recently retired ISBE Chief Operating Officer Melissa Oller for her 26 years of service to the agency. Ms. Oller was in attendance. She thanked past and present staff, acknowledged the Board and ISBE’s executive team, and expressed that she will miss everyone at ISBE but she is excited for her next chapter.

Chief of Staff Dr. Kimako Patterson updated the Board that Dr. Christine Paxson was asked by the U.S. Department of Education to present on the continuous improvement model at the National Elementary and Secondary Education Act Conference in Austin, Texas. A total of 450 people attended her session. Dr. Patterson also said that she had the opportunity to visit Jodi Scott in Regional Office of Education 33, who was in attendance. Dr. Patterson said she had a wonderful experience and shared a magazine with the Board sent by Superintendent Andrea Guerrero. The magazine was produced by students and funded by the Stronger Connections Grant.

Chair of the Board’s Report

Chair Isoye shared that he presented at Club of Asian and Pacific Americans of Westmont Summit, including students from neighboring areas. Their theme was “Cultural Crossroads.” He said how impressed he was by the event. He also said that the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) recently started its NASBE exchange program to help share what is happening across states and increase engagement. He promised to provide updates going forward.

Member Reports

Dr. Leak acknowledged that it is Black History Month, noting that Black history extends beyond just this one month, but we do celebrate in February. She emphasized the importance of acknowledging the different entities and identities that compose Illinois and looked forward to Women’s History Month. She also shared her experience attending the Black Caucus Black History program and stated how it was refreshing to hear unsolicited appreciation from the legislators for the agency. She acknowledged ISBE staff and Board members for their work. Dr. Leak also announced that she will be stepping in to chair the upcoming NASBE conference and thanked the Board members for their continued support through for re-election as vice chair for her last two years on the Board.

11. Information Items

ISBE Fiscal & Administrative Monthly Reports

Freedom of Information Act Monthly Report

12. Motion for Adjournment

Chair Isoye stated that the next Board meeting will be held on March 12, 2025, in Plainfield. Dr. Leak moved to adjourn the Feb. 20, 2025, meeting of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Dr. Nugent seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote. The meeting adjourned at 10:48 a.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/isbe/Board.nsf/files/DEAR2B6BD877/$file/DRAFT%20Plenary%20Minutes%20-%20February%2020%202025.pdf