Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards
When comparing the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) newly adopted Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards to it’s previous version prior to becoming adopted, a few interesting differences are found. Really, those differences come down to changed and removed wording. It’s understandable that revisions are necessary to adopting new standards however, it’s an entirely different story when revisions occur because particular words and their meanings draw major criticisms and concerns from Illinois parents. Changing the wording and or omitting particular words doesn’t mean that their intentions have changed. It appears that ISBE has deceived parents and in doing so have also insulted their intelligence.
Let’s take a look at how the wording differs from the Illinois Register Volume 44, Issue 37 | Rules of Government Agency’s Notice of Proposed Amendments from September 11, 2020 Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards and ISBE’s newly adopted Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards. Please note: There are several other issues we have with these newly adopted standards however, we will not be addressing these issues at this time.
Section 24.50 The Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards
ISBE completely removed the “activism” and “activists”. While the newly adopted standards state “advocacy” and “advocates”, it’s clear to see that these two words also mean “activism” and “activists”.
Section e.) Leveraging Student Activism
Found on pages 7 and 8 PREVIOUS VERSION
5.) Create a risk-taking space that promotes student activism and advocacy.
6.) Research and offer student advocacy and activism content with real world implications.
7.) Hold high expectations in which all students can participate and lead as student advocates or activists.
Section e.) Leveraging Student Advocacy
Found on pages 5 and 6 NEWLY ADOPTED
5.) Create a risk-taking space that promotes student advocacy.
6.) Research and offer student advocacy content with real world implications.
7.) Communicate high expectations to which all students can be held and urge students to lead as student advocates appropriate to the students’ age and development.
Section f.) Content Selections in All Curricula
ISBE replaces “progressive viewpoints” with “balance of viewpoints”. Did you catch that? K-12 teachers are to embrace and encourage progressive viewpoints and parents/guardians shouldn’t have an issue with that? It’s called a game of semantics and that is what ISBE and school boards are doing. They are lying to parents.
Page 9 PREVIOUS VERSION
5.) Embrace and encourage progressive viewpoints and perspectives that leverage asset thinking toward traditionally marginalized populations.
Page 7 NEWLY ADOPTED:
5.) Embrace and encourage a balance of viewpoints and perspectives that leverage asset thinking toward traditionally marginalized populations.
Facts don’t lie folks!
