Eye on Education 8/17/2018

August 17, 2018

Your daily synopsis of education news

What one District 204 leader learned from her summer trip to Finland

The Daily Herald did a Q&A with Indian Prairie Unit District 204 Superintendent Karen Sullivan on her summer trip to Finland.

Here's what Sullivan said about what is different about education in Finland:

So Finland has a national curriculum that is decided by teachers. Politicians stay out of education there. There are big differences in teacher training. You have to have a master's degree before you can teach. New teachers have to learn under a master teacher for a year. It's a highly sought field, a very respected and valued profession.

Between 10 percent and 11 percent of the students who apply get into the field. They closed a number of teacher training programs and put them all at research universities. It's pretty rigorous.

Finland doesn't have the diversity that we do. They don't have the amount of poverty that we have. They have very little difference between their schools, and they fund all their schools equitably; it's not based on property taxes or where you live, it's a national funding amount and everyone gets it.

There's no accountability system in Finland. There is no standardized testing until kids leave high school. They see "accountability" as more rooted in fear.

Daily Herald

EBM helping Herrin School District reduce class sizes and boost safety

WSILTV reports on how EBM funding is helping the Herrin School District in southern Illinois.

After recent changes to the state funding formula, officials with Herrin CUSD #4 have more money in their budget.

Wednesday was the first day of classes.

"We're excited about the start of this school year," superintendent Terry Ryker said. "We were... able to employ several new positions to deal with safety and curricular upgrades and classroom reduction size and helping students that are in need."

Ryker said he was able to hire several people for various positions, including three new teachers in the elementary school and two new social workers to help students deal with problems at school and at home.

WSILTV

Mount Zion upperclassmen help freshmen with transition to high school

The Decatur Herald-Review reports on how upperclassmen helped freshmen with the transition to high school on the first day back to school.

Mount Zion has signed up to be part of the Link Crew, a national program designed to build relationships between older and younger students, and among the freshmen, so they'll feel comfortable and have a sense of belonging right from the beginning.

Freshmen orientation this week, a few days before school started on Thursday, included team-building and getting-to-know-you activities as well as tours of the school and plenty of time to have fun.

Decatur Herald-Review

New: Quality Framework for Illinois Schools

In this episode, IASA speaks to Dr. Julie Schmidt, Superintendent of Kildeer Countryside CCSD #96 in Buffalo Grove. Schmidt served on the Illinois Balanced Accountability Measure committee and subsequently ESSA committee. Her district volunteered for a pilot program with implementing the framework. Schmidt discusses the Quality Framework works and how it can benefit school districts.

Listen Here

Homebuyers willing to sacrifice "must haves" for better schools

According to a report from Realtor.com, 86% of 18-34 year-olds and 84% of those aged 35-54 indicated that their home search areas were defined by school district boundaries.

What is surprising, however, is that 78% of recent homebuyers sacrificed features from their “must-have” lists in order to find homes within their dream school districts.

Buyers are attracted to schools with high test scores, accelerated academic programs, art and music programs, diversity, and before and after-school programs.

Realtor.com