Peoria Standard

Jim Rule, Chairman of the Tazewell County Republicans, expressed concerns over recent changes by the Illinois State Board of Education. He said that lowering benchmarks is a misguided attempt to mask systemic failures rather than addressing the real needs of students. Rule made his statement to Peoria Standard.

"It's incredibly troubling that the Illinois State Board of Education has chosen to lower test score benchmarks instead of tackling the root causes of underperformance," said Rule. "Issues like inadequate teaching, underfunded classrooms, and insufficient student support remain unaddressed. This decision distorts the reality of student achievement, creating a misleading picture of educational success. What students actually require is meaningful reform, not a superficial fix that masks failure and undermines their future."

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

The Illinois Policy Institute reported in August that Illinois continues to face persistent academic challenges. In 2023, only 35% of elementary students were reading at grade level, with just 27% meeting 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 of $10.9 billion for the fiscal year 2024-2025, both proficiency and enrollment continue to decline. School leadership is urged to address low academic performance, absenteeism, and other critical issues to ensure students graduate equipped for future success. Emphasis is placed on foundational skills such as reading by third grade.

Rule, who resides in Morton, was first elected as Chairman of the Tazewell County Republicans in 2018. 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 Tazewell County voters."