Rep. Ugaste Files Bill to Restore State Testing Standards

Springfield, IL - State Representative Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) filed legislation today in Springfield that would restore ISBE's student educational benchmarks to pre-2025 levels. ISBE lowered its proficiency standards last year, despite ongoing data and assessment scores that outlined how students in Illinois are struggling in Math and Reading.

"We need to stop cheating our children. We should not be lowering the standards and depriving them of the education they deserve; instead, we should figure out what needs to be done so they can do better," stated Rep. Ugaste. "We've had the current test levels for years, but suddenly ISBE lowered them. Whether this was done to make students feel more proficient or politicians look better is irrelevant. The focus should be on educating children for their futures.

"Illinois has long stood as a shining example of students who have excelled academically," Rep. Ugaste continued. "It is half the reason Illinois is known for having the best-educated and hardest-working workforce. Why would we lower the bar and put these kids at a disadvantage is beyond me. It's time to roll back the changes ISBE put in place last year and push to get back to the level of academic excellence for which Illinois is known."