Senator Mark Koran (R-North Branch) responded to flatlined student test scores released on Thursday. Results show just 50% of students can read and 45% are proficient in math across the state. That’s a drop of about 10% in each area since 2019, when scores were already trending downward.    

“These test results continue to be deeply concerning,” Senator Koran said. “Students have fallen behind in reading, writing, and math, in part due to pandemic disruptions. Both parties support making sure schools have the funding they need, but funding is not the only answer. Injecting politics into the classroom and heavy-handed, expensive mandates are hurting student performance. We need less politics in the classroom and more focus on academic fundamentals and achievement.”

During the 2023 session, Senate Republicans proposed the Students’ First plan which funded students without mandates and put $100 million towards literacy training for teachers and students to get them back on track. Schools sounded the alarm that the mandates in the Democrats’ education bills along with their one-party control agenda would leave schools underfunded. One suburban superintendent told his school board, “This is potentially one of the most damaging sessions I’ve seen since I’ve been a superintendent.”