Unit #40 Board Hears District's Consolidated Plan

Every Illinois school district is required to have a Consolidated District Plan for how federal funds are utilized in the district.

Effingham Unit #40 Curriculum Director Chelle Beck reviewed the local district's plan during Monday night's Board meeting.

Beck explained that federally funded programming offered in Unit #40 are Title I, Title II, IDEA Part B Flow-Through, and IDEA Part B Preschool.

Beck said a summary of the district's plan is as follows:

--enriched curriculum and educational experience aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards

--focus on the whole child

--in addition to teacher instruction and guidance, students receive skill and concept practice with interventionists, paraprofessionals, trained volunteers, peer assistance, and computer assisted programs

--for students needing additional support, options include academic and social emotional data and interventions, based on data and student needs. Interventions include academic, social emotional, enrichment, and English language support

--staff participate in large group, small group, and personalized learning to support the whole child, teacher leadership, and gradual release. This learning occurs on Teacher Institutte Days, School Improvement Days, substitute release days, plan time, and stipend days.

--only the district's preschool program is served with IDEA preschool dollars. The district continues to work with Eastern Illinois Area Special Education to access additional funding for the blended or at risk classroom through the ISBE Early Childhood Block Grant

--Title II dollars are used for class size reduction in Grades K-5

--Out of Unit #40's five classroom buildings, Early Learning Center, South Side, and Central are served with Title I dollars, and all three are schoolwide

--all five classroom buildings are served with Part B flow through dollars