Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Public education is about college readiness.

“We are preparing our students for post-secondary (education), and there is a proficiency. There is a bar that they all must reach, but they are all not going to get there at the same time, and they all are all not going to get there in the same way,” said Nicole Moody in presenting the District 186 report card to the school board Monday. Moody is assistant superintendent for teaching, learning, and school culture. “But we have a belief in our district and across the state. We know every student can grow. Growth is over time, and it really is looking at a student and their individual growth as well as their growth in comparison to their peers. Proficiency is about a target, like a level of achievement.”

Public education is about career readiness.

“We have seen the highest level of enrollment in (career and technical education) since we began collecting this data,” Moody continued. “It is actually up over thirteen percent even since last year, which is about 275 kids.”

Moody said one “celebration” coming out of the report card is improved SAT performance among students at Springfield and Southeast High Schools. “We’re expecting to see that growth at Lanphier as well.”