Peoria Standard

Illinois State Board of Education Education Policy Planning Committee of the Whole met Sept. 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Roll Call

Committee Chair Dr. Donna Leak brought the meeting to order at 9:34 a.m. Roll call was taken. A quorum was present with seven members attending in person. State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders also was in attendance.

Members Present

Committee Chair Dr. Donna Leak

Dr. Steven Isoye

Dr. Sherly Chavarria

Laura Gonzalez

Dr. Judy Hackett

Dr. Patricia Nugent

Dr. Jonah Rice

Members Absent

Dr. James Anderson

Staff Present

Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent

Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent

Jo Ireland, Board Services Coordinator

Kristen Kennedy, Chief Legal Officer

Dr. Kimako Patterson, Chief of Staff

Dr. Matt Seaton, Chief Financial Officer

Tassi Maton, Chief Internal Audit Officer

Dr. Jason Helfer, Chief Education Officer – Instruction

Jennifer Saba, Chief Education Officer – Operations

Irma Snopek, Chief Policy and Communications Officer

Miguel Calderon, Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Ronda Dawson, Executive Director of Teaching & Learning

Kirsten Parr, Director of Standards & Instruction

2. Public Participation

Jelani Saadiq, Director of Government Relations at Advance Illinois, spoke regarding potential plans to change the Grades1-6 grade license to include kindergarten. He asked that no changes be made without significant input from the early care and education field. Mr. Saadiq expressed concerns and urged the Board to have further discussions before moving forward with the implementation of this proposed policy change.

3. Approval of Minutes: August 12, 2025

Dr. Hackett moved that the Education Policy Planning Committee of the Whole hereby approve the August 12, 2025, meeting minutes. Ms. Gonzalez seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote. Dr. Leak abstained from the vote.

4. Presentation

A. Numeracy Plan

Executive Director of Teaching & Learning Dr. Ronda Dawson and Director of Standards & Instruction Kirsten Parr presented this item.

Dr. Rice expressed his appreciation on the stakeholder feedback and asked for further details on what the listening tours look like. Ms. Parr shared they will visit all six IARSS regions and will include a virtual component. During the visit, there will be a short overview to start and then they will ask individuals to come and provide feedback based on what is included in the Numeracy Plan. The plan will be disseminated after it’s brought to the Board in October.

Ms. Gonzalez asked if they would be using the same process as the Literacy Plan. Ms. Parr said it is a process informed by the plan, but they learned from that process and have made some adjustments.

Dr. Nugent asked if they would have associate professors from higher education involved in the process. Ms. Parr confirmed yes. Dr. Nugent then asked for clarification if the math educators are indeed that or are they math educators teacher prep. Ms. Parr responded that there is a mix of both involved.

Dr. Nugent asked if there is external support for the Numeracy Plan, as we had for the Literacy Plan. Ms. Parr stated they are in the process of finalizing a contract for that external support and she will share additional information about that support from the partners in the future. Dr. Nugent inquired as to whether there was a connection with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Ms. Parr confirmed the connection. Dr. Leak added that the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics is the organization that will help with the professional development so the need to include them at the discussion table is important.

Dr. Sanders thanked the ISBE team for their work on the Numeracy Plan on the heels of the Comprehensive Literacy Plan.

5. Superintendent’s Consent Agenda – September 17, 2025

Chair Leak reviewed the items on this month’s consent agenda.

A. *Approval for Publication – Part 600 (Enrollment of Payment for Nonresident Students at the Philip J. Rock Center and School) Per Diem Rates and Reports

B. *Approval of the Fall 2025 Waiver Report

Dr. Nugent asked if there was any pushback on the nonresident students attending Philip J. Rock Center and School. Dr. Sanders confirmed that he and his executive team had not received any feedback on it.

6. New Business: Items for the Next Agenda

7. Next Meeting: September 16, 2025

Dr. Leak shared that the next meeting would be on October 14, 2025, in Flossmoor.

8. Adjourn

Dr. Nugent made a motion to adjourn. Dr. Hackett seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote. Chair Leak adjourned the Education Policy Planning Committee of the Whole meeting at 10 a.m.

https://www.isbe.net/Documents_Board_Meetings/091625-EPP-Minutes.pdf