Dupage Policy Journal

The harmful effects on learning caused by COVID-19 lockdowns has become an increasingly common topic of concern among parents and teachers. As revealed through test scores and observed inabilities, school closures, remote learning and other pandemic mitigations have negatively impacted students academically, mentally, socially and developmentally, with Illinois being no exception. Recent results from the Illinois Report Card of 2022 have been released, revealing major setbacks in the classroom. However, despite the bad report, Gov. JB Pritzker spoke positively on the matter.

A recent Wirepoints analysis of Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) data compares pre-COVID student outcomes from 2019 versus those from 2021. The analysis shows that the number of students able to read at grade level dropped from the already dismal 37 out of every 100 students, to just 31 out of every 100 – an 18% drop in proficiency.

The results for minority students were even worse. Among blacks, there was a 36% decline, with only 11 out of 100 black students able to read at grade level in 2021. Among Hispanics, there was a 29% decline, with only 18 out of 100 students able to read at grade level the same year.

School performance and student proficiencies in Illinois have been declining over the past two years. However, according to a press release from the Illinois State Board of Education, Pritzker spoke relatively positively after the report was released, highlighting the fact that Illinois high schoolers notched their highest graduation rate in a decade.

“Illinois students and educators are resilient, dedicated and have much to be proud of in their latest Report Card,” Pritzker said, according to the press release. “I’m pleased that the growth in the graduation rate is driven by some of our most vulnerable students, and that all our students collectively are picking up their learning and demonstrating tremendous growth. Our plans to diversify and strengthen the teacher pipeline are beginning to yield fruit, as we defied the national trends and added 2,500 new teachers. Of course, we still have much work to do, but I am encouraged and proud to see that our children have a bright future.”

Wirepoints' analysis also revealed that student math proficiency in the state suffered a 19% decline. In 2019, just 32 out of every 100 Illinois students were able to do math at grade level. However, that number fell to 25.8 out of 100 in 2021.