
Illinois is getting $11.9 million in federal stimulus money to create and use a data system that’s designed to track student progress.
Illinois is getting $11.9 million in federal stimulus money to create and use a data system that’s designed to track student progress. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the Illinois funding Friday. The federal education department says the system lets states examine student progress from their early childhoods through their careers. The systems also match students with teachers while protecting confidentiality. Duncan says this type of tracking helps teachers and principals and will help parents "better understand the unique educational needs of their child." Duncan used to be the head of Chicago Public Schools before he was picked to be federal education secretary by President Barack Obama. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.