The Illinois State Board of Education has made it tougher for students to be considered proficient on state tests.
The board voted Thursday to raise the cut-off score for the Illinois Standards Achievement Test in English language arts and math. The change affects elementary and middle school students.
State Superintendent of Education Christopher Koch (cook) says it's "a significant step in changing how we measure a student's progress."
Koch says the new, higher expectations will provide more accurate information about how students are doing. He says educators will be better able to identify students who need more help and ensure young people are on track to enter college or career-training programs.
At the same meeting, the Illinois State Board of Education voted to recommend a funding increase for schools by $874 million next year, a 13.4 percent increase.
At the same meeting, the Illinois State Board of Education voted to recommend a funding increase for schools by $874 million next year, a 13.4 percent increase.
Finance Committee Chairman Jim Baumann says school districts are in "dire, dire straits," with 67 percent of districts in deficit spending. He says more than 6,400 teachers have been laid off and class sizes have grown in recent years as school funding has been cut.
But an increase in funding for education is unlikely.
Illinois is in the midst of a massive budget crisis, in part because lawmakers haven't reached a deal on pension reform.
Gov. Pat Quinn's office released budget projections earlier this month. They estimated school funding would be cut by $400 million in the next fiscal year.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
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