A federal law known as the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA, requires every state to make sure kids become proficient in core subjects, and continue to learn more each year. The law further requires states to come up with a yardstick to measure that success, but allows some flexibility on how heavily test scores will count. Other numbers like graduation rates and college readiness can be factored in.
The latest draft of Illinois’ plan calls for tests to count for 51 percent, and those softer goals 49 percent. This morning, Governor Bruce Rauner told the state board of education he wants to change that ratio.
“I’d go to 80-20. I’d be perfectly happy at 90-10. I mean, you guys will debate and decide.”
Rauner also asked the board to continue revising its plan until the last possible deadline, which is in September. However, state superintendent Tony Smith indicated he hopes to stick to the board’s current plan, and submit it to the federal Department of Education on April 3rd.
