By Andy Dahn
BLOOMINGTON – Students in District 87 schools may need to go through a slightly different process to take the ACT or SAT this spring.
The lack of a state budget means there’s no money in place for students to take the tests. Superintendent Barry Reilly explained what that lack of funding means for those preparing for college.
“The students will have to take it on a national test day, which means they will have to self-select that,” Reilly said. “Our counselors, administrators and teachers obviously provide information about that and assistance to help them through that process. But they’ll have to do it on a national test day and there’s various test days throughout the semester.”
Reilly said the state agreeing on a budget could mean adequate funding and a set date for testing, but he isn’t counting on that happening.
“At this point, I don’t see that that’s going to change,” said Reilly. “We’re getting very close to the time to have to prepare for that, so I don’t anticipate that it’s going to change this year. Perhaps next year they can schedule a date if they get a budget done, but right now it doesn’t appear that it’s going to happen.”
Reilly added that ACT has filed a protest on the winning bid that was given to SAT, making it the required test for high school seniors in Illinois. The test, which is revamped and will be introduced later this month, includes an optional essay and does not penalize students for incorrect answers.
This was District 87’s first meeting without board president John Dirks, who resigned at the end of 2015. It was also announced that board member Judith Webster, who had been a board member since 2009, has resigned. A special meeting will be held on Jan. 25 to interview applicants for the position of board president and board member. The new members will be introduced at a Feb. 10 meeting.
Andy Dahn can be reached at andy.dahn@cumulus.com.
