Illinois Schools Not Making the Grade, Report Says

City gets federal grant for teacher bonuses

Chicago's Public Schools aren't making the grade, says a bipartisan education reform group.

Advance Illinois released a report card for Illinois schools, and gave the state a D for K-12 education.

The report was presented by former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Bill Daley at a City Club of Chicago luncheon Thursday.

It said:

  •  33% of eight grade students are proficient in math
  •  33% of eighth graders are proficient in reading
  •  16% of students take advanced classes
  •  37% of adults have at least an associates degree
     

Meanwhile,  Chicago Public School district received a federal grant for $35.9 million dollars to proceed with a program that would give bonuses to principals, teachers and class aides based on student achievement.

Twenty-five area schools will be selected to participate in the program, which employs a new data system to measure the value added by every teacher and every school, the Chicago Tribune reports.
 
The grant is the first distribution of the $1.2 billion dollars the Obama Administration set aside to fund teacher incentive programs over the next five years.

The participating schools have not yet been selected. The program kicks off next fall.

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