Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Elementary and Secondary Education. 2017 Progress Report

Overview & Synopsis

Each year, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) updates its continuing, five-year comprehensive strategic plan for elementary and secondary education, per the Education Reform and Accountability Act of 2004. ISBE's Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Elementary and Secondary Education provides a comprehensive review of how the agency concentrates its efforts and resources to fulfill the Board's mission, vision, and goals. State Superintendent Smith has made building relationships with school district superintendents across the state a priority. In 2015, he specified five key areas of focus to give more strategic definition to the agency's work toward achieving its goals: (1) Money--establish an adequate and equitable education finance system; (2) Quality--Common definition of, and fair access to, quality education; (3) Autonomy--Maximize district autonomy to provide quality education to all families; (4) Competency--Encourage competency-based learning; and (5) Community--Districts and schools as centers of healthy communities. The 2017 Progress Report details new initiatives, partnerships, policies, and opportunities designed to support school districts in improving student outcomes. [This report was published by the Illinois State Board of Education's Office of Communications. For the 2016 report, see ED618457.]