Kane County Reporter

Devin Corbett, chairman of the Aurora Township Republicans, has expressed concerns regarding potential changes to academic standards in Illinois. He said that lowering these standards is a misguided attempt to conceal systemic failures and emphasized that genuine progress requires parental involvement and accountability. Corbett shared his views with the Kane County Reporter.

"Lowering proficiency standards in Illinois is a sign of educational decline, not progress," said Corbett. "It avoids the real issue: students aren't receiving the support and instruction they need to succeed. This approach hides the problem rather than fixing it. Illinois educators should be raising expectations, not abandoning them."

According to Chalkbeat, Illinois education officials are contemplating reducing the score required for students to be considered proficient on state standardized tests. These officials argue that current benchmarks are excessively high and do not accurately reflect students' readiness for college or careers. State Superintendent Tony Sanders indicated that many students are unfairly labeled as 'not proficient.' The Illinois State Board of Education began developing new potential testing systems on May 14, which would involve setting lower score benchmarks. If approved in August, these new scores would impact spring 2025 test results.

The Illinois Policy Institute reported in August that Illinois continues to face significant academic challenges. In 2023, only 35% of elementary students read at grade level, and just 27% met math standards. Proficiency rates remain below pre-pandemic levels, with 81 public schools reporting no third-grade students reading at grade level—51 of these schools are located in Chicago alone. Despite record education funding of $10.9 billion for the 2024-2025 period, proficiency and enrollment continue to decline. School leadership is urged to address issues such as low academic performance and absenteeism to ensure students graduate equipped for future success, with an emphasis on foundational skills like reading by third grade.

Corbett was first elected as Chairman of the Aurora Township Republican Party in 2024. According to the organization’s website, he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Aurora Township voters."