East Central Reporter

A recent study surfaced this week, showing a significant drop in the states that participate in the association that is developing tests based on the Common Core curriculum.

In response, District 110 Rep. Reggie Phillips (R-Springfield) expressed his views to voters on Common Core in Illinois, saying the state’s current graduation rates are unacceptable.

According to the Heartland Institute, a report published in a Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s educational journal, Education Next, shows that the number of states scheduled to participate in the consortia that develops tests to go along with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) saw a 62 percent decline.

Regarding whether Illinois should follow the significant number of states that have dropped out of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, which develop the CCSS tests, Phillips said there needs to be a thorough review of the program. He also stressed the need to hear from educators and parents on what they believe is best for students.

“As with other programs in the state, Illinois needs a comprehensive review of programs that have been newly enacted,” Phillips told the East Central Reporter. “It’s time we start to get the people involved in the decision making process that specifically effects them.”

Phillips said that funding alone is not enough when it comes to making decisions about education and what is most effective for students in Illinois.

“The state is adding another $1 billion to K-12 funding, but we need to get the teachers, parents, superintendents and administrators involved in the conversation on what is best for the students,” he said. “I don’t have the current-day experience in the classroom like our teachers, nor the helping with homework at night like our parents, or the management of schools such as our superintendents and administrators. What I do have is the ability to get all these people in a room and work together to make any changes that are necessary for our kids. Call the program whatever name you like, but our first and foremost priority is our children’s education.”

Phillips said he believes changes do need to be made to the CCSS -- and that the state’s graduation rates reflect that need. He explained the option to sit back and do nothing is not an option that he sees as viable.

“I do think there needs to be changes to the program in that our graduation rates are not acceptable,” Phillips said. “We can and must do better for our students and for preparing them for their futures. We have a few choices when it comes to education: we can scrap the program as a whole, work to make changes to the existing program or do nothing. I am not a do-nothing guy.”

At this point, Phillips would like to hear from those that are directly impacted prior to the Illinois General Assembly making any decisions.

“The priority is and will always be to provide the best education for our students,” he said.