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| State Report Card Released |
A report card on education reveals Illinois has some strengths and some weaknesses.
"The State We're In: 2010" showed some strengths in early childhood education, but it also shows the state lags badly in kindergarten through 12th grade and post secondary attainment.
"The report looks beyond test scores at progress, achievement gaps and conditions in our schools," said former Governor Jim Edgar, a co-chairman of Advance Illinois, an education policy group. "There are some hopeful efforts now under way but we've got a sobering amount of ground to cover. As a state, we're just not measuring some vital things like whether our children are starting kindergarten ready to learn, how many students need remedial help in college and how well our teachers are performing in the classroom."
Early education received an "incomplete" grade because the state doesn't measure if children are starting kindergarten developmentally and academically on track. Illinois actually offers more preschool slots than any other state.
Kindergarten through 12th grade education received a "D" because Illinois ranks in the bottom half of the nation in reading and math at the fourth and eighth grade levels.
The report also looked at the number of Illinois adults with college degrees. "College Credentials" received a "C" grade. Only 37 percent of Illinois adults over 25 have an associate's degree or higher, according to the report. Illinois ranks 42nd in the nation for college affordability. On average, sending a student to college costs families 35 percent of their income.
Some solutions, according to Edgar and co--hairman Bill Daley, former U.S. secretary of commerce, are extended school days and teacher reviews.
The report says Illinois overall grade when it comes to education is a "D."
(Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 09 24 10 by Newsroom |
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