Audit: Give more U-46 funding to gifted

An audit of Elgin Area School District U-46's high school academies recommended increased funding for the specialized schools-within-a-school.

The review, presented to the school board Monday, was the latest in a series of external audits commissioned by U-46.

Budget cuts have forced the academies to scale back, the audit found, diminishing opportunities for gifted and talented students.

Some classes, particularly in the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Larkin High School, are too large to provide the one-on-one attention academy students require, the audit found.

Strict staffing guidelines have exacerbated the problem, prompting the academies to accept some unqualified students in order to reach target class sizes, the audit found.

Technology, equipment and learning materials at the academies are outdated, the audit found.

And certain learning experiences, such as the study abroad program at the World Languages and International Studies Academy at Streamwood High School, are available only to students who can pay or raise money. The district should consider providing additional support for the cost of field experiences, the audit found.

Lorraine Plum, the education consultant who prepared the audit, said the district should be commended for maintaining the academies in the face of drastic budget cuts.

She said the district should now look to rejuvenate the program, since U-46 is on firmer financial footing.

Many of the audit's conclusions seconded the findings of a previous audit, also conducted by Plum, of the district's gifted program.

Like the gifted audit, the academy audit found that learning materials and curriculum were not sufficiently challenging for advanced students.

"Materials provided for regular education are insufficient for talented students who master skills more quickly," the audit said.

And like the gifted audit, the academy audit recommended that district staff work harder to attract a wider, more diverse population to the program.

Interim Superintendent Mary Jayne Broncato said the audit would help guide the creations of the new Beacon Academy at South Elgin High School. The academy will focus on media and communications.