SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois education officials on Wednesday approved changes to their cut scores — the benchmarks used to determine proficiency — used for state standardized tests.

"Prior performance levels mislabeled many students in elementary and high school, often indicating that students were less academically successful and prepared for college than they actually were. The new, unified levels correct long-standing misalignment between Illinois' state assessments and other real college and career readiness expectations," the Illinois State Board of Education announced on Wednesday.

The Board maintained that its learning standards and assessments have not changed. The new policy changes the score that proves proficiency in core subjects on each state assessment in order to "ali

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