Prairie State Wire

Illinois House Republicans have expressed their opposition to the State Board of Education's recent decision to lower student proficiency standards. This announcement was made on X, following data that revealed only 41% of third- through eighth-grade students in Illinois read at grade level.

According to the Illinois House Republicans' post, the State Board of Education voted this week to reduce proficiency benchmarks for state assessments. The caucus criticized this move, arguing it sends the wrong message when student literacy is already low. They urged the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to focus on raising expectations and providing support for students to meet rigorous benchmarks rather than lowering them.

Illinois Policy reports that the latest 2023–2024 state test scores indicate only 41% of students in grades 3 through 8 read at grade level, with just 28% proficient in math. The analysis highlights that only about 31% of 11th graders meet reading benchmarks, pointing to a statewide struggle with pandemic-era learning losses. These statistics emphasize the urgency behind the Illinois House GOP's call for stronger standards and systemic support.

Chalkbeat Chicago notes that the Illinois State Board of Education approved changes to cut scores defining proficiency on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness for reading and math while increasing them for science. Under this new system, 53% of students would be considered proficient in English language arts and 38% in math, although these figures are not directly comparable to previous years. Critics warn that such changes could obscure underlying academic deficiencies instead of addressing them.

The Illinois House Republicans represent a minority caucus in the state's House of Representatives, advocating for policies focused on fiscal responsibility, educational accountability, and public safety. They monitor state education policy closely and respond to actions by agencies like ISBE through official platforms such as their website and X. Their efforts aim to promote transparency, student success, and rigorous academic standards across Illinois.