D219 added a Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) category to student surveys in Infinite Campus. House Bill 3768 was signed by the Governor of Illinois, Jay Robert Pritzker, on Aug. 4, 2023. The legislation expanded the racial classification categories when collecting data. The bill was created to amend the Uniform Racial Act and create a MENA category. The legislation was set to be implemented on Jan. 1, 2024.

D219 mostly collects performance data, which includes standardized test scores, attendance, graduation rates, perceptions about school climate and their sense of belonging. The demographic data includes race, ethnicity, language, gender and socioeconomic status. The district’s use of data evaluates and expands access to educational programs such as advanced coursework, college and career-readiness programs, extra-curricular and co-curricular opportunities. 

According to deputy superintendent Roszena Haskins, data collection also allows access to funding sources, including state and federal grants. In their effort to address achievement gaps, enhancing instructional effectiveness and strengthening school engagement data is also useful. Data is used to track participation in programs, including English language learning and special education.

“All of this is in an effort to ensure equitable access to educational opportunities. D219 also uses data as a tool to inform, engage and inspire. We use data to celebrate our successes and engage diverse stakeholder groups. I love D219. It is such a special place, and data is just one way to tell our unique story,” Haskins said. 

Assistant principal of Student services, Page Powell, believes that the new category is a good thing because it helps students in D219 be better represented.

“Whenever someone is filling out a form, whether that is a state form or a school form, I think it’s important that we reflect what our true population of students is and that they have the ability to pick how they racially identify. It’s just really empowering for students to know that we [District 219] see them,” Powell said. 

Junior and MENA club member Hasan Hedayat is glad that MENA is a new category but is apprehensive about the communities that will be represented in the new category.

“I’m very happy to hear that MENA was added as a category. The whole point of these racial statistical data is so that the many different communities of the country can be represented and given the resources that they need, especially historically marginalized and discriminated groups. So, considering the long history of targeted government surveillance and other forms of discrimination, I think that this is a long overdue but necessary addition. I am disappointed to learn that Israelis will be counted in the MENA community, since most MENA groups don’t really consider them to be part of it and the fact that Israelis have not historically experienced the discrimination that a lot of MENA people have faced, but it’s at least a step towards addressing the issues that affect the MENA community,”  Hedayat said.

Haskins reflects on why the change is important to school-wide statistics.

“There are many advantages to having a fuller narrative of who we are and who we serve as a district,  including educational program development, resource allocation and inclusive and responsive practices.  Specific to the recently added MENA category, I have been moved by several personal testimonials from students, staff, and parents that having MENA added to the state’s racial/ethnic reporting categories has made them feel seen and validated in our schools.  Soon, we will see it in our official reporting data and hopefully in future educational research,” Haskins said.

Going forward, incoming freshmen will be able to select this designation when they enroll at Niles West.