LM Sept. 2018

2018 ANNUAL CONFERENCE Sept. 26–28, 2018 —Springfield, IL

th

Friday, Sept. 28—9:30am CLOSING GENERAL SESSION Keynote Speaker

Q&Awith State Superintendent Dr. Tony Smith ON ESSA, EBM AND MORE By Jason Nevel IASA Assistant Director of Communications

aren’t. It’s not as much as it used to be about competition. Now with evidenced-based funding, everyone is interconnected. The last piece on my mind is something that doesn’t take a lot of money but matters a whole bunch. How we talk to and talk about our kids and families. IASA: What is the No. 1 mission ISBE is attempting to accomplish with its ESSA plan? Dr. Smith: It’s really about coordinated services and supports for every community so that all of our kids are meeting the board goals. We have a series of goals that include: • All kindergartners are assessed for readiness. • Ninety percent or more of third-grade students are reading at or above grade level. • Ninety percent or more of fifth-grade students meet or exceed expectations in math or science. • Ninety percent or more of ninth-grade students are on track to graduate with their cohort. • Ninety percent or more of students graduate from high school ready for college and career.

Illinois State Superintendent Dr. Tony Smith will be one of the featured speakers during the closing session of the IASA Annual Conference. His speech is titled, “What our new funding and supports mean for strengthening every school community in Illinois.” IASA spoke with Smith about his planned remarks for the conference, ESSA implementation, the teacher shortage, Early Childhood Block Grant, state assessments and the new ISBE Superintendent’s Hotline. Below is an edited and condensed version of that conversation. IASA: What will be the focus of your speech at IASA Annual Conference September 26–28 in Springfield? Dr. Smith: This year in particular, I will talk about the work we’re doing with (ESSA) implementation. We’ve been doing pretty remarkable planning work. There’s been significant change in terms of policy environment and now we are really shifting into implementation. I’m going to focus on what does it mean to be working in new and different ways. I also plan to talk about how the new funding system has given us a new way to look at where resources are and where they

15

continued...