East Central Reporter

In the 2022-23 school year, 28.1% of the students in Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 passed the ELA portion of the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Of the 1,247 students in Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 who took the ELA portion of the test, approximately 350 (28.1%) passed.

The percentage of Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 students who met or exceeded expectations on the IAR increased by 3.6% compared to the previous school year.

Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 roughly covers four schools within Coles County and has a main office in Mattoon.

The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) assesses the progress of students in grades 3-8 in meeting the Illinois Learning Standards in English language arts and mathematics.

Illinois has approved a new budget for 2025 that increases funds for K-12 education to $8.6 billion, $350 million above last year’s budget. Lawmakers also approved a new bill that creates a statewide child tax credit, which allows families to receive $300 per child under 17 years. This comes after a similar aid was granted from the federal government, as part of the American Rescue Plan.

School	District	Students who met standards (%)	Students who exceed standards (%)
Arland D. Williams Junior Elementary School	Mattoon Community Unit School District 2	30.9%	3.3%
Mattoon Middle School	Mattoon Community Unit School District 2	28.6%	1.8%
Riddle Elementary School	Mattoon Community Unit School District 2	17.6%	0.6%