13
New Illinois Learning Standards
provide important tools for educators
Later this month, the Illinois State Board of
Education will honor more than 200 outstanding
educators and school personnel from across the
state during the 40
th
annual “Those Who Excel”
banquet in Normal. One individual will be named that
evening as the Illinois Teacher of the Year for 2015.
This program allows us to recognize individuals
and teams who work on behalf of
students each day to help them
become
successful
lifelong
learners. Additionally, it is an
opportunity to celebrate and
promote public education. It’s so
important that we take time to
publicly recognize these educators
and their dedication, leadership,
enthusiasm and innovation in the
classroom. Great teaching takes
hard work and the right mix of
preparation, skills and flexibility to
produce exceptional outcomes.
The State Board is committed
to providing educators with every
tool and advantage needed to give
students a challenging and well-
rounded education that’s relevant
to real-world experiences. Our
effort to update content standards
in all subject areas is just one way
we are working toward this goal.
As we prepare our students to
compete and thrive in the 21
st
century, we must address the
needs of a child as a whole and
foster their development as critical
and creative thinkers, collaborative
problem solvers and healthy, civic-
minded citizens.
To build on our adoption of the new Illinois
Learning Standards in English language arts and
math four years ago, we adopted the Next
Generation Science Standards earlier this year. We
adopted new physical education standards last year
to make sure students can work well together and
develop habits that promote their overall physical
and emotional wellness. Just last month, I requested
a review of our arts and social studies standards to
align them with our college and career readiness
goals and expectations. Two committees composed
of advocates, teachers, administrators and
community partners will study the current standards,
review those of other states and make
recommendations for improvements.
This process has been a good evolution from the
outdated expectations of our previous learning
benchmarks. The new
standards are important
tools for teachers to help
guide their instruction and
ensure that students not
only master content but a
variety of skills as well.
A
majority
of
educators believe the
new
standards
will
improve students’ ability
to lead, focus and
connect with ongoing
initiatives to improve the
quality of education in
Illinois, according to
results from Scholastic’s
Primary Sources Survey
of Illinois teachers last
fall. As implementation
continues, more teachers
are working together in
teams and sharing ideas
and
best
practices.
Teachers are also acting
as facilitators with their
students to promote
active and engaged
learning. I have no doubt
that more teachers, as
well as students, will realize their full potential under
our new expectations and initiatives and your
guidance. I look forward to recognizing their
achievements.
The new standards are
important tools for teachers to
help guide their instruction and
ensure that students not only
master content but a variety of
skills as well.
A majority of educators
believe the new standards will
improve students’ ability to
lead, focus and connect with
ongoing initiatives to improve
the quality of education in
Illinois, according to results
from Scholastic’s Primary
Sources Survey of Illinois
teachers last fall.
-- Dr. Christopher A. Koch,
State Superintendent of Education
Message from
the State
Superintendent
of Education
