Jay Swidler, chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans, said Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s changes to student proficiency standards create a misleading picture of performance, prioritize optics over transparency and leave Illinois families without a clear view. He made that statement to Lake County Gazette.
The issue centers on recent adjustments to how student achievement is measured in Illinois schools. Swidler said these changes obscure the true state of education and make it difficult for parents to assess their children’s progress. “The Pritzker administration is showing a version of student performance that does not reflect the full reality. When standards are lowered and past benchmarks are set aside, it becomes harder to see where students truly stand. This can leave parents feeling uncertain about the quality of their children’s education. Families deserve honest, transparent information so they can support their children with confidence,” Swidler said.
The Illinois Policy Institute reported that in his budget address, Gov. J.B. Pritzker highlighted improved test scores while Illinois lowered proficiency cut scores, boosting results. About 41% of students read at grade level and 28% met math standards, with lower rates in high school. Low-income students performed below state averages by double digits, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.
Further data from the Illinois Policy Institute indicated that academic challenges persist statewide. In 2023, 35% of elementary students read at grade level and 27% met math standards. Proficiency rates remain below pre-pandemic levels, with 81 public schools reporting no third-grade students reading at grade level—including 51 in Chicago—despite $10.9 billion in education funding for 2024-2025. School leaders identified issues such as low academic performance, absenteeism, and foundational skills like reading by third grade.
Swidler was first elected chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans in 2024 and is focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing party membership, and communicating party positions on local issues according to the organization’s website.
