Metro East Sun

Illinois education officials are seeking public input on a new plan aimed at improving student math performance across the state. The Illinois State Board of Education will launch an eight-stop listening tour in October to collect feedback on its initial draft of the “Comprehensive Numeracy Plan.” This initiative comes five years after schools were closed due to Governor JB Pritzker’s COVID-19 shutdown, which disrupted learning for many students.

The first session of the listening tour is scheduled for October 16 at the board’s Springfield office. Other stops include Naperville on October 22, Rockford on October 23, a virtual session on November 4, Champaign on November 5, Edwardsville on November 12, Carbondale on November 13, and Chicago on November 18. All meetings will begin at 4 p.m., and participants can register online. The final version of the numeracy plan is expected to be presented to the state board by June 2026.

The Comprehensive Numeracy Plan aims to provide educators with evidence-based strategies for teaching math. According to recent student testing data, reading scores for grades three through eight have returned to pre-pandemic levels. State officials credit these gains to the adoption of a Comprehensive Literacy Plan in recent years. However, math scores remain below those recorded in 2019, leading state leaders to reconsider current approaches to math instruction.

Harriss was elected as a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate in 2023 and represents the state's 56th Senate District after replacing former senator Kris Tharp.