Will County Gazette

Travis Weaver, a state representative from Illinois, has criticized the state board of education for allegedly lowering standards to enhance the administration's image. He called for higher benchmarks to support student achievement in a statement made on Facebook.

"The Illinois State Board of Education should be helping students reach and even exceed benchmarks," said Travis Robert Weaver, Illinois State Representative for 93rd District (R), according to Facebook. "Instead, they have lowered our state's standards to try and make the Pritzker administration look better. This is unacceptable, and our children's futures are at stake. We must work to raise the bar, not lower it, when it comes to student achievement in Illinois."

Illinois, under Governor J.B. Pritzker, has implemented several educational reforms. These include the 2021 Education and Workforce Equity Act, which altered graduation and curriculum requirements; the adoption of Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards in 2021; and the introduction of a 2024 Comprehensive Literacy Plan aimed at promoting evidence-based reading instruction. Capitol News Illinois reported that Pritzker signed the equity act into law, while the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) detailed these teaching standards and literacy plans as part of statewide recovery efforts.

Recent testing indicates that proficiency among Illinois students in grades 3–8 has improved in reading but remains weaker in math. The ISBE reported in October 2024 that 40.9% of students were proficient in English language arts, marking the highest level since 2019, while math gains were smaller. Chalkbeat Chicago confirmed reading proficiency at 41.2% and math at 28.4%, showing improvements from 2023 but still below pre-pandemic levels.

According to ISBE data, Illinois students have outperformed national averages in some areas based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). In 2024, eighth graders scored an average of 262 in reading compared to a national average of 257 and scored an average of 277 in math versus a national average of 272, with roughly one-third reaching proficiency. NAEP’s state profile confirmed Illinois’ advantage in eighth-grade reading and math scores, while fourth-grade scores were closer to national levels.

Weaver is a Republican member representing Illinois' 93rd District, first elected in 2022 and sworn into office in January 2023. His official biography notes his educational background with degrees from the University of Alabama and Northwestern University and prior experience as a strategy manager at Caterpillar. Weaver emphasizes policy priorities such as budget discipline, competitiveness, and education reform.