Illinois State Board of Education

The strategic plan objectives include monitoring progress towards goals, completing action plans, and sharing progress updates. Key goals for FY26 and FY27 involve identifying high-performing programs, updating learning standards, improving system efficacy, developing scoring criteria for educator preparation programs, evaluating program alignment to literacy standards, and strengthening the teacher pipeline.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Strategic Plan focuses on student learning, learning conditions, and elevating educators. Key areas of focus include supporting social-emotional learning, strengthening instruction for students learning in Spanish, updating state standards for social science, promoting disciplinary equity, and maximizing the impact of state and federal funds. The plan aims to ensure that every child in Illinois can find success in schools by addressing historic inequities and providing resources necessary to create safe, healthy, and welcoming learning environments.

The 2024-2027 Strategic Plan for the Illinois State Board of Education is committed to continuous improvement and responsiveness to the evolving needs of school-aged children in Illinois. The plan focuses on equity, student learning, learning conditions, and elevating educators. Key goals include implementing an Equity Impact Analysis Tool, using an Equity Journey Continuum, ensuring high-quality education with access to resources and supports, advocating for safe and healthy learning environments, and providing educators with the support needed to deliver high-quality education.

The 2020-2023 Strategic Plan, approved on November 19, 2020, focuses on equity, student learning, learning conditions, and elevating educators, while recognizing the unique assets of each district. The plan leverages the talents of ISBE staff, educators, and stakeholders, addressing agency work during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Key goals include using an equity impact analysis tool for decisions, employing an Equity Journey Continuum for district equity assessment, ensuring significant academic gains for every child, providing resources for safe and healthy learning environments, and supporting educators through multiple pathways. The plan is extended through FY 2024, with a new 2025-2030 plan in development.

The Illinois State Board of Education's Strategic Plan serves as a roadmap to equity, outlining steps to improve opportunities and supports for Illinois students, especially those in greatest need. The plan focuses on student learning, learning conditions, and elevating educators. Key initiatives include developing an internal Equity Impact Analysis Tool, expanding access to internet-connected devices, providing virtual training for educators on trauma and mental health, increasing enrollment of Latinx and African American candidates in educator preparation programs, adopting new Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards, and creating model policies to protect LGBTQ students and prevent bullying. The plan also addresses the impact of the pandemic and the strategic use of federal relief funds to advance equity.