Math & reading standards and testing in Illinois
Updated June 2026
Illinois uses the Common Core State Standards, adopted as the Illinois Learning Standards for ELA and math. Students in grades 3-8 take the IAR each spring in both subjects.
Does Illinois hold kids back in 3rd grade for reading?
No. Illinois has no statewide test-based 3rd-grade retention mandate; promotion is local.
Standards
Illinois Learning Standards
Aligned to the Common Core State Standards, so grade-level skills match what most of the country teaches.
The key test
The Illinois state test
IAR covers both math and reading in grades 3-8.
Reading the results
Spring, typically March to April.
Five levels (2025): Did Not Yet Meet, Partially Met, Approached, Met, Exceeded.
On grade level means Met or Exceeded Expectations on IAR ELA.
What's distinctive about Illinois
Illinois recalibrated its IAR performance levels in 2025 to align elementary benchmarks with high-school college-readiness measures.
Practice the skills, by grade
Whatever Illinois calls its test, the underlying math and reading skills are grade-level. Practice them directly:
Practice the skills behind the test
Illinois teaches the Common Core standards. What a third grader has to do does not change: multiply, find the main idea, read a paragraph and say what it meant. KangarooKiddo drills those skills in daily sessions of a handful of questions that end on their own. You see where your kid actually stands, they earn rewards you set up and approve.
Source: Illinois Department of Education. Verified for the 2025-26 school year; policies can change, so confirm with your school.