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District 54 works to gauge students' success

District 54's mission statement is Ensuring Student Success. In order to live our mission, we must first ask ourselves: What is the definition of student success?

Last month, District 54 was thrilled to learn that Chicago Magazine ranked 11 of our schools in the top 20 elementary schools in suburban Cook County. What made us exceptionally proud of this ranking is that the publication looked at more than the results of tests.

It's true; we want our students to score well on the state-mandated PARCC assessment. We are proud that District 54 performed in the top 7 percent of all public elementary school districts in the state based on last year's PARCC assessment. However, PARCC can only tell us how our students were performing at that point in time.

For years, District 54 has also administered the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment. Some parents have asked whether we could discontinue this assessment now that we have PARCC. However, we continue to administer MAP because it measures academic growth at three points during the school year (fall, winter and spring). Also, the results are immediate, whereas we wait months to receive the state assessment.

And, yes, we also want all of our students to show academic growth on MAP. We are proud that 19 of our schools were in the top 10 percent nationally for student growth in reading and 26 schools were in the top 10 percent for math.

However, we know that test scores alone do not determine student success. As educators, family and community members, we need to focus on the whole child.

Chicago Magazine also looked at the Illinois State Board of Education's 5Essential Survey. Teachers, parents, guardians and students across Illinois are encouraged to participate in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey each year in January, sharing their thoughts on important elements of school effectiveness and helping guide school improvement.

The survey identifies five indicators that can lead to important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. Research has shown that schools strong on these indicators are 10 times more likely to improve student learning. The five indicators are effective leaders, collaborative teachers, involved families, supportive environments and ambitious instruction. To learn more about the 5Essentials, visit https://illinois.5-essentials.org.

In District 54 we agree that the indicators outlined in the 5Essentials do contribute to students achieving academic success. More importantly, those indicators contribute to the social-emotional well-being of our students.

Over the course of this school year, I plan to focus my monthly columns on some of the elements that define effective schools, including our staff, our students, parent and community support, the diversity of programming, and much more. There are many components at play in helping children develop socially, emotionally and academically.

Yes, we want them to be college- and career-ready. However, more importantly, we want them to develop positive skills enabling them to live a rewarding life.

I look forward to sharing those pieces with you and I thank you for the part you are playing in helping us ensure student success.

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