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* Kankakee High School will take part in an innovative pilot project…

Kankakee High School will help pilot an evolving education trend that measures student growth based on competency rather than time spent sitting in a classroom.

Last week, the Illinois State Board of Education named Kankakee School District 111 one of the 12 schools that will pilot a competency graduation program.

Essentially, the program allows high schoolers to advance at their own pace. For instance, a student who demonstrates mastery of ninth grade English requirements can move on to 10th grade English immediately rather than having to wait an entire school year.

“This is going to be more skills-based rather than time spent in the classroom,” said Felice Hybert, the district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum. “If a student can show competency in certain skills, they can move on and get credit. It’s not tied to a year of instruction. They can move on in 30 days, 60 days – whenever they show the ability to move on.”

Superintendent Genevra Walters believes the program will help improve the high school’s graduation rate. It will enable advanced students to challenge themselves. It will also measure skill sets for students who are not as engaged in school. At the same time, the district plans on providing more support for students who struggle. […]

Walters said the district plans on forming partnerships with Kankakee Community College, Olivet Nazarene University and local businesses to help students advance into careers.

* Felice Hybert also recently wrote about another Kankakee program…

At Kankakee Public Schools in Illinois, we’ve introduced 16 different career paths to about 70 percent of our K–5 students using Defined STEM’s career wheel. Some of these topics include agriculture, communication and information studies, human services, and health science. Each grade has a designated topic, paving the way for every student to explore and become familiar with a wide variety of career possibilities.

Three years ago, this began the transformation of Kankakee’s general education track into the College and Career Academy, which is 100 percent focused on using with PBL to prepare students for future jobs. With our new focus, we are one of 10 high school districts in Illinois that have started to move to competency-based learning. We’re also working to report on students’ mastery of skills with progress levels, rather than a traditional report card at the end of each semester.

* But Rep. Jeanne Ives was having none of it during a recent committee hearing…

“I don’t know why a district like yours that is struggling academically is willing to buy into this entire idea that we are going to now learn outside of school when they haven’t mastered obviously the requirements for in school,” Ives said.

Hybert countered by saying the numbers prove students have disengaged with the traditional school setting and need a change,

However, Ives still was not convinced, and said the risk of taking $2 million to fund a pilot program with no proven success is a no for her.

“I am sorry I am just not buying it,” Ives said.

Um, the whole idea is to try to help the kids who have trouble learning the traditional way. Left up to Ives, the kids would have to first learn the traditional way before being given the option to participate in an alternative educational format.

That just doesn’t make a milligram of sense.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:29 pm

Comments

It sounds like a variation of the Montessori style of education, which has a proven track record.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:35 pm
Ives seems like she likes structure and order…

This goes against that.

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:35 pm
–Essentially, the program allows high schoolers to advance at their own pace. For instance, a student who demonstrates mastery of ninth grade English requirements can move on to 10th grade English immediately rather than having to wait an entire school year.–

How is that a bad thing? Bored teenagers will always find ways to amuse themselves if they’re not challenged. And probably ditch school to do so. I know I did.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:37 pm
Let’s stop giving Ives air time

Comment by Biker Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:38 pm
Biker, get your own blog.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:39 pm
Jeannie Ives’ education philosophy: “Readin’ and writin’ and rithmatic, done to the tune of a hickory stick.”

Comment by TominChicago Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:39 pm
Hahaha, point taken. Hope you enjoy this beautiful weather!

Comment by Biker Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:42 pm
Is the problem this program purports to address the overabundance of students whose reading, writing, and math skills are above their grade level? So far above, indeed, that they are a year or more ahead and feel bored because school is too easy? Or, is the program intended to benefit those who perform well below their grade level, and if so, how? My sense is that far more students fall into the latter category. Perhaps introducing them to different types of jobs at a young age will inspire them to study, but they still need to learn to read and write from someone. When will this occur under the innovative model?

Comment by Dr. M Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:49 pm
The new hotness in edumacation is something called:”Flip teaching”. It seems to be working pretty well. Basically, the old way was to have everybody read the book in class, then do exercises/homework at home - where they can’t ask the teacher for help. Flip teaching changes the order around so the reading and research is done at home, and the exercises are worked on in class, along with Socratic dialogs that explore and dissect the concepts the kids have been reading about. This leads to the kids learning the material faster and in greater depth.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:51 pm
Ives does love her absolutes. Gray areas and gray matter are not her forte.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:52 pm
There’s a new method introduced nearly every year and every year we fall farther behind as a country. Go figure. Schools can’t fix parenting and that’s what we’re all expecting schools to do, because heaven forbid we hold parents accountable.

Comment by Shemp Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:54 pm
But let’s not set up a system where poor children can get funding to go to a private school that may be a better fit and increase their changes for success down the road.

We possibly do need different methods like this one and others to get better results. I remember going to a parent teacher conference for my son who was in an AP math class as he was only getting a C. The teacher said he was bored and never turned in homework but aced all the test. The class was going too slow for him and he was bored and unmotivated. He passed with strong numbers on his AP test for college. Maybe if we can challenge and motivate our students better we will get better results.

Comment by Stand Tall Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:56 pm
-The beatings will continue, until morale improves- Rep Ives

Comment by West Sider Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 1:01 pm
Is there anything Ives is for? She seems to have disdain for a lot of stuff.

Kids learn differently. There is no reason we shouldn’t be able to cater to kids differently if it helps them succeed.

I’m not sure Rep Ives is up to speed on what a pilot program is but the whole purpose of a pilot program is to see if it works.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 1:05 pm
So could a gifted kid capable of doing advanced work graduate in 2 or three years?

Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 1:17 pm
Is it really all that unreasonable to suggest that:

1. a poorly performing school may not be the best place for this pilot

2. something other than the “traditional school setting” is the reason that the students aren’t performing well

2. proof of the success of the program be provided before voting for it

Maybe it was discussed during the hearing and the press didn’t cover it?

Or maybe Rep. Ives recognizes that government is traditionally terrible and objectively evaluating the outcomes of programs like this and wanted more proof before lending her support?

Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 1:19 pm
The pro school-choice/vouchers crowd sure seems to do a whole lot of pearl clutching any time a public school tries to do something innovative.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 1:26 pm
Actually Cubs, I would say that Rep. Ives knows a lot about the Gray.

I’m kind of interested how they treat the advanced kids. Graduate Early, AP Classes, or bus them to Olivet? Sounds like a great way to knock out College Pre-reqs and save some money on tuition.

Comment by ChrisB Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 1:28 pm
18 percent of Kankakee district 111 students are at grade level. They cannot read or write or do math per state standards.

So the school and teachers are failing.

We can count the reasons why.

This proposed program isn’t about teaching reading and writing and math. It is about finding something else to do because teachers have failed at the basics.

Comment by Schoolmarm Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 1:32 pm
===poorly performing school may not be the best place for this pilot===

#FacePalm

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 1:33 pm
===Actually Cubs, I would say that Rep. Ives knows a lot about the Gray.===

Well played.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 1:34 pm
Ives should rethink her position. Some kids are brilliant (high IQs) and should be allowed to fly through the material. For others, it’s not going to be a good option.

Idea. Maybe we can just go online with high school, like our great universities are doing with a significant percentage of their offered classes. (Hard to find on-campus classes in some degree programs if you prefer old-fashioned lecture learning.) Just post youtube videos on the blackboard, made by third parties, and call it teaching. /ha

Comment by cdog Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 1:37 pm
Every year about this time some one or two students in Florida graduate from High School and College at the same time. Last year actually the young woman graduated college several days before she graduated high school. The Kankakee model seems to avoid the problem of having students sit a year in every class in order to graduate. I like the pilot project. I hope they develop equally good strategies to engage the students below grade level. That also may not involve sitting in a classroom six hours per day.

Comment by Peters Post Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 2:02 pm
–But let’s not set up a system where poor children can get funding to go to a private school that may be a better fit and increase their changes for success down the road.–

Or, you could fulfill the Constitutional mandate for public schools.

But your social justice warrior manifesto moves me. You’re all down for public spending for the poor on healthcare, SNAP, housing, etc.?

Tell me it’s not just about sticking it to teachers unions. That would make me sad.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 2:39 pm
I look back on my high school career and see all the time wasted in some classes (chemistry). Didn’t need, knew I never would. I should have been in another fine arts class or taking a college level class in something I had a passion for. It’s why I left high school with a 2.3 GPA and finished three years in university with a 4.0. I applaud the steps Kankakee is taking here, let’s upend the model a bit. It’s how we learn by the way – doing something different and judging results. Lawmakers need to get out of the way on this and allow for more pilot programs of all nature and then reassess the outcomes in a few years.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 2:58 pm
What methods do the 2 dozen or so countries that out perform the US in math and science use ? Since we are in a global economy perhaps looking at what the competition is doing then adjust accordingly

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 3:36 pm
Sounds good until some parents start complaining that their kid wasn’t pushed ahead fast enough and others complain their kid was stigmatized for being left in the slow track.

In any event try it. The status quo seems to be failing a lot of kids. I suspect many IL business leaders would reimburse the $2 million pilot cost in a heartbeat if the program showed promise and improved employability of kids in failing schools.

Comment by Cook County Commoner Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 3:50 pm
“This is going to be more skills-based rather than time spent in the classroom,”

More of this please. Classroom time means nothing, what is learned, retained and applied is what is important.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 5:25 pm
As soon as New Trier and Stevenson sign up for growth based on competency, count me in. Otherwise, let’s call this the stunt for which it is.

Comment by Jocko Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 6:10 pm