Lake County Gazette

Jay Swidler, Chairman of Vernon Township Republicans, has criticized the Illinois State Board of Education's decision to lower proficiency benchmarks on state tests. Swidler said that this move is a misguided attempt to mask systemic failures rather than addressing the real needs of students. His comments were made to the Lake County Gazette.

"The decision to lower test score standards in Illinois reflects a disturbing unwillingness to address the root problems in education," said Swidler. "Poor instruction, under-resourced schools, and minimal support systems continue to hinder student success. By adjusting benchmarks rather than fixing what's broken, the board creates an illusion of improvement. But this doesn't benefit students—it delays necessary reforms and ultimately harms their long-term potential."

According to Chalkbeat, the Illinois State Board of Education recently approved changes to cut scores on state tests, effectively lowering proficiency benchmarks for math and English language arts. Under these new guidelines, ACT scores of 18 in English and 19 in math and science will now indicate proficiency on a 36-point scale. These adjustments are scheduled to take effect in spring 2025 and are expected to increase reported proficiency rates—from 41% to 53% in English and from 28% to 38% in math. Officials argue that this is a realistic adjustment rather than a lowering of standards; however, it raises concerns about masking academic struggles following the pandemic. The board approved these changes unanimously.

The Illinois Policy Institute reported in August that Illinois continues to face significant academic challenges. In 2023, only 35% of elementary students were reading at grade level, while just 27% met math standards. Proficiency rates remain below pre-pandemic levels, with reports indicating that 81 public schools had no third-grade students reading at grade level—51 of which are located in Chicago. Despite record education funding amounting to $10.9 billion for the fiscal year 2024-2025, both proficiency and enrollment figures continue to decline. School leadership is urged to address issues such as low academic performance and absenteeism, emphasizing foundational skills like reading by third grade as crucial for future success.

Swidler was first elected as Chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans in Buffalo Grove in 2024. According to the organization’s website, he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Vernon Township voters."