State Overhauls Standardized Testing; Manhattan to Launch New Middle School Career Program

Article Summary: Manhattan students and families will see significant changes in academic reporting and planning this year, as the state revamps its standardized test scoring system while the district introduces a new career exploration framework for middle schoolers.

Academic Changes Key Points:

• The Illinois State Board of Education is changing the proficiency scale for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) from five levels to four.

• The new reporting levels will be “Highly Proficient,” “Proficient,” and others, aiming to provide a more accurate reflection of student achievement.

• Manhattan School District 114 will implement the state’s Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) framework for 6th through 8th graders.

• The PaCE framework is designed to help students begin planning for high school and beyond by focusing on self-advocacy, identity, and planning skills.

MANHATTAN — Manhattan School District 114 is navigating a major shift in statewide academic assessment while simultaneously rolling out a new program to help middle school students prepare for their futures. The district’s curriculum director briefed the board Wednesday on the state’s overhaul of the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) performance levels and the local implementation of a career readiness framework.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is moving from a five-tiered scoring system for the IAR to a four-tiered one. The change is part of a larger effort to align scoring across all state tests, including the high school SAT and the Illinois Science Assessment, and to provide a more accurate picture of student proficiency.

“They want to make sure that when they say a kid is falling into a proficiency level that it truly is a true indicator of where they’re performing,” the district’s curriculum director explained.

Instead of labels like “exceeds standards,” parent reports will now use terms such as “highly proficient.” The state also plans to provide more detailed descriptions of what students at each level are able to do. The new performance levels will be reflected on the annual Illinois School Report Card, which will be released in late October. However, because the system is new, historical trend data on performance levels will not be available this year.

In addition to the state-level changes, Manhattan Junior High is adopting the Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) framework for students in grades six through eight. The state-mandated framework aims to better prepare students for the career pathway planning they will encounter at Lincoln-Way High School.

“Certainly our sixth graders are not ready to decide exactly where they want to go to college and what they want to do for a career, but there are things we can be doing in sixth through 8th grade that help kids be prepared,” the curriculum director said.

The program will be integrated into the existing advisory curriculum and will focus on helping students identify their strengths, build support networks, and develop self-advocacy skills. The school board is expected to formally approve the district’s PaCE framework at its September meeting.