State officials discuss education at joint hearing

Posted on September 25, 2020
classroom
Another major part of this hearing was the age for compulsory education. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Sometimes, the things you hear just blow you away.That was the case at a joint hearing on education Thursday.

Examining some facets of education as part of a Legislative Black Caucus initiative, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) learned from Voices for Illinois Children’s Mitch Lifson that 86 percent of Black eighth-graders score below proficiency in math. At first, Lightford thought that was the number that was actually proficiency.

“That explains why they can’t pass a basic math skills test for City Colleges or the trades or anything else,” said Lightford before exclaiming, “If — if — if — if — I mean, gosh!”

She wondered how those kids could even get out of the fourth grade, but, then again, holding students back is not embraced much.

Another major part of this hearing was the age for compulsory education. The consensus was that it should be moved from six to five, making kindergarten mandatory as well.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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