Dupage Policy Journal

Rep.  Deanne Mazzochi (R-Westmont) recently shared her thoughts regarding the recently passed HB 0226, which prohibits universities from requiring  standardized test scores for student admission considerations. The law became effective on the first of this month. 

“I think that when it comes to standardized tests they’ve been used historically to make the admission process more meritorious as opposed to the prior process of who you knew and who your family was,” Mazzochi said. 

FairTest recently reported a list of more than 1,000 colleges and universities  that have opted to remove the testing requirements as they were found to often be determined by the students’ “privileged backgrounds.”

“It's my understanding that standardized testing companies have gone out of their way to make sure a question can be answered based on the culture you grew up in as opposed to standard knowledge,” she continued.

 A study recently released by The National Association for College Admission Counseling suggests that schools that don’t have such requirements demonstrate more diversity than others. Mazzochi believes test admission submissions should be optional to ensure a fair and unique entry experience for each student, determined by the board of trustees at each individual institution. 

“I think if the decision of whether or not to use standardized testing is considered on a school-by-school basis it has the ability to expand opportunities,” she explained.

According to the latest data from the Illinois State Board of Education, the number of Illinois students in 3rd-11th grade who meet grade-level standards decreased by 18% in the last two years in math and by 17% in English.  Among Chicago Public School 11th graders, only 23% met grade-level standards for reading and only 21% met grade-level standards for math.

“If you are  a student who cannot get a high-quality education at grade school or high school level you're far more likely not to do as well on a standardized test,”  Mazzochi said. “But there have been many students that have overcome incredible odds to do so and students that have every privilege not do so. 

She also explained that the figures represent the overall poor management of the state’s school system.

“I think this proves precisely the point that when you have these schools that are spending $27,000 per pupil and you have such poor scores at multiple levels, that demonstrates a deeper problem at that school system,” she said.