Student Achievement Shows Growth Despite Pandemic

Amidst the backdrop of the pandemic and its impact on learning, the District 28 community worked together to not only maintain but actually improve student achievement, 2022 data show.

District 28 student achievement shows increases – in some cases exponential increases – over a seven-year period. Student achievement did not drop in math during the pandemic and student achievement in English language arts recovered.

“Though I wasn’t here yet, as I look through the data, I am incredibly proud of all that the district team and our students accomplished during what was the most challenging time in the history of public education. These results are a reflection of the commitment to education by everyone in the community: teachers, administrators, parents and students,” Superintendent Dr. Jason Pearson said, who replaced Dr. Larry Hewitt when he retired June 30. “We are seeing the results of our work around areas of focus on math and writing in increased student achievement.”

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kris Raitzer and Director of Learning Michelle Jackson presented the 2022 assessment report to the Board of Education at its Nov. 29 meeting, which includes state standardized assessments that are used to create the state school report cards, and the NWEA MAP assessment, which provides immediate results that educators use to assess both the academic programs and identify students who need additional supports.

The district calendar for 2023-24 is based on the start and end dates as well as major holiday breaks in the Glenbrook High School District 225 calendar. Although there are some differences with parent/teacher conferences, professional learning, and some holidays, the calendar follows the high school as much as possible.

The first day of school will be Wednesday, Aug. 23 for K-8 students and Thursday, Aug. 24 for Young Explorers, and the last day of school, if no emergency or snow days are used, will be Friday, May 31.

View the 2023-24 At-A-Glance Calendar

Prices Rising Faster Than Property Tax Revenues

Every year, the district must adopt a tax levy to receive local property tax revenues. Local property tax revenues fund about 83% of the district’s operations. Tax cap laws limit the amount that can be collected by 5% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less, over the prior year, plus new growth.

The tax levy is an estimate based on the amount received last year and an estimate of how much new property growth is worth. Chief School Business Official Jessica Donato said the district will receive about $2 million more than last year based on the 5% rule. She is overestimating new property growth to ensure the district captures all revenues that will be available under the state formula. 

The $43.1 million levy, which is $2.4 million higher than the 2021 levy, was approved by the board. The actual amount the district will receive is called an extension and is set by Cook County. 

Ms. Donato said she expects the total property tax revenues to be about $41.5 million. She noted that the total revenue increase will be lower than the rate of inflation. Some of the unknown cost increases she is weighing include employee insurance benefits, higher enrollment that may require additional staff, utility costs, unfunded mandates, and special education.

View the complete presentation

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