Illinois Proposes Overhaul of School Accountability System

Last updated: April 19, 2026

The Illinois State Board of Education has proposed changes to the state’s school accountability system, aiming to simplify and streamline the rating process. The new system would eliminate several measures, including college and career readiness and 9th Grade on Track, a metric used to predict graduation rates.

TL;DR

Illinois proposes changes to school accountability system.
Changes include elimination of 9th Grade on Track and college and career readiness.
Continuous attendance to replace chronic absenteeism.
Education groups express concerns about proposed changes.

Current System Overview

The current system assigns designations to public schools based on metrics like school climate, test scores, and graduation rates. The top 10% of schools are labeled “exemplary,” while the bottom 5% are designated “comprehensive” and undergo a four-year improvement cycle.

Illinois proposes changes to school accountability system. What does this mean for students and schools? #education #accountability Tweet Now Follow Learning Success

Proposed Changes

The proposed changes include the elimination of 9th Grade on Track and college and career readiness from the rating system. The system will also swap out chronic absenteeism for continuous attendance, which measures the percent of students who have been present for 90% or more of the school year.

Author Quote "

Quote: ‘If you’re labeled ‘exemplary,’ just like if you get an A in a class, you’re going to be like, ‘Well, I must know the subject.’’ Attribution: Joshua Kaufmann, Executive Director of Teach Plus Illinois

Not applicable - no significant bias identified

Education Groups’ Concerns

Several education groups have expressed concerns about the proposed changes, arguing that they will leave out key measures that paint a full picture of school performance. Advance Illinois, an education advocacy nonprofit, noted that for 15% of schools across the state, there is at least a 10% disparity between graduation rates and the share of on-track freshmen.

Key Takeaways:

Proposed changes: Elimination of 9th Grade on Track and college and career readiness from the rating system.
Continuous attendance: New metric to replace chronic absenteeism, measuring the percent of students present for 90% or more of the school year.
Education groups' concerns: Proposed changes may leave out key measures of school performance.

Looking Ahead

The Illinois State Board of Education will vote on the proposed changes at a board meeting on April 15. If the proposal passes, it will be implemented in the fall after approval from the U.S. Department of Education.

The proposed changes to the Illinois school accountability system have sparked concerns among education groups. As the state moves forward with the new system, it is essential to consider the potential impact on schools and students. Learning Success offers resources and support for parents and educators to help students thrive in the face of changing educational landscapes.