Students in New Lenox School District 122 will see several changes in the upcoming school year, as the Board of Education approved updates to the 2025-2026 Parent/Student Handbook that affect standardized testing, grading, and health education.

One of the most notable changes is the replacement of the PSAT with the PreACT for eighth-grade testing. This aligns the district’s assessment with the testing used at the high school level.

The board also approved removing standards-based report cards for fourth and fifth-grade math and making a change to the fourth-grade health and sexual education curriculum. Language for the Gifted and Academically Talented Education (GATE) program was also updated to incorporate new classes.

The handbook updates were presented by Associate Superintendent Dr. Liza Bruni and were approved by the board, though not unanimously. Board member Al Haring cast a “nay” vote on the motion, which was part of the consent agenda.

The updated handbook will be made available to parents and students before the start of the 2025-2026 school year.