School leaders are equipped with research-based information, skills, and practices to lead districts, schools, and classrooms where each and every child receives significant opportunity for a fair, equitable, and high-quality education.
The mission of IL-EMPOWER, the Statewide System of Support, is to build the capacity of school leaders to implement and sustain effective school improvement practices that improve student achievement and performance outcomes, especially in Illinois’ lowest and underperforming schools.
IL-EMPOWER delivers comprehensive and targeted support to the State’s lowest and underperforming schools in response to Illinois’ urgent and collective responsibility to achieve educational equity. Program policies support evidence-based practices that include the diverse backgrounds and life experiences of all students and families to ensure fair, equitable, and high-quality educational opportunities for each and every child.
Starting with the 2018 School Report Card, each Illinois school received a Summative Designation, a measure of progress in academic and student success. Multiple measures determine which one of four Summative Designations is appropriate for the school and can be found on the School Report Card.