Why the state education board wants to change benchmarks for state tests

Sixth-grade students study science at Sycamore Trails in Bartlett, which was Elgin Area School District U-46's first school since 2019 to earn an exemplary designation on the Illinois School Report Card in 2024. State education officials will be adopting new performance levels and proficiency benchmarks for state assessments in English, mathematics and science going forward. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com, 2024

How Illinois measures whether students are achieving grade-level proficiency in English, mathematics and science and whether they are ready for college is about to change — again.

The Illinois State Board of Education on Wednesday will vote on adopting new performance levels and proficiency benchmarks for state assessments. The proposed changes would align the ACT, Illinois Ass