Illinois student struggles continue as enrollments decline
[October 01, 2025]
By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – A public education advocacy group says Illinois
students are still struggling with academic proficiency.
Advance Illinois held a virtual briefing Tuesday on the state of public
education in the Land of Lincoln.
Advance Illinois President Robin Steans noted that most Illinois
students are not proficient, according to the National Assessment of
Educational Progress.
“Our NAEP proficiency rates are stagnant at about a third of the student
population. Obviously, that is not good news,” Steans said.
Data from NAEP, also known as “The Nation’s Report Card,” showed that
30% of Illinois’ fourth graders met or exceeded reading proficiency
standards. Steans said just a third of Illinois students showed
kindergarten readiness.
Advance Illinois measured about 80 metrics and found equity gaps to be
of particular concern.
Steans touted Illinois’ evidence-based funding (EBF) model and said the
formula provided $2.8 billion in state taxpayer funds to schools that
need it the most.
Illinois taxpayers shell out about $19,000 per student statewide.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his administration has increased its commitment
to students by more than $2.8 billion, a 33% increase in school funding
by state taxpayers. The state’s education budget for the 2025-26 school
year is a record-high $11.2 billion.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski said Pritzker should
prioritize literacy over diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
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Alan Wooten | The Center Square
“You’ll never hear Governor Pritzker say that our kids can’t read. He
will only say that we have record graduation rates. He will not level
with the people about how bad things are,” Dabrowski said during a
recent campaign event.
School enrollment numbers are dropping along with Illinois’ population.
According to Steans, the enrollment declines are especially steep at the
college level.
“Enrollment in K-12 education is dropping, but it’s dropping about
proportional to population changes. Our enrollment in higher education
is much more outsized. We’ve seen a 28% decrease in enrollment,” Steans
said.
Steans said college readiness for Illinois students is 30%, down from
38% before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey’s running mate, Aaron
Del Mar, said last week that education should be personal, not
political.
“That is why Darren and I will fight to ensure that education funding is
fair and transparent. We will expand school choice and homeschooling
options,” Del Mar said.
Following Tuesday’s media briefing, Advance Illinois had a panel
discussion scheduled Wednesday at the City Club of Chicago.
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