ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOLERS WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO TAKE THE PARCC EXAM TO MEASURE HOW READY THEY ARE FOR COLLEGE.

ISBE’S JASON HELFER SAYS BUDGET CONCERNS ARE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHANGE, AS WELL AS CONCERNS THAT STUDENTS SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS.

HELFER SAYS THE CHANGE IS PARTLY DUE TO BUDGETARY ISSUES…AS WELL AS MAKING SURE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO TESTS THEY NEED TO GET INTO COLLEGE.

SCHOOLS PREVIOUSLY ADMINISTERED THE A-C-T…BUT SWITCHED THIS YEAR TO THE S-A-T. THIRD THROUGH EIGHTH GRADERS WILL STILL HAVE TO TAKE THE PARCC EXAM.