State Impact Story: Illinois

One thing about data quality: All the pieces matter. In Illinois, state staff were eager to find ways to improve the quality of their local data, thus improving the whole. Quite naturally, they soon turned their attention to the state’s largest school district, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Likewise, quite naturally (in our opinion), they secured the assistance of our IDC TA specialists.

Beginning in spring 2025, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) undertook an effort to improve CPS data quality through direct collaboration and onsite support. ISBE and IDC coordinated with the CPS data leads to learn and implement enhanced processes for data analysis and data use. The outcome included greater knowledge of the purpose of the data they collect and how those data actually reflect the progress of a child through the special education systems and services. Together, IDC and state and local staff are addressing issues like inconsistent data collection and reporting practices, establishing clear data processes using the IDC LEA Data Processes Toolkit.

Through the collaboration of ISBE and Chicago Public Schools with the facilitative support of IDC, state and local staff are working together to make all the pieces matter. Improving data quality is a top priority to strengthen data collection and reporting across the district and throughout the state.