Illinois Getting Rid Of Unpopular PARCC Testing

CHICAGO (AP) -- The Illinois Board of Education says it is switching to a new standardized test this month for third through eighth graders across the state.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the students will be given the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, or IAR, instead of the widely-criticized PARCC test.

Board of Education spokeswoman Jackie Matthews says the IAR is about a third shorter than PARCC. Matthews says more sweeping changes are coming, including quicker results and more locally created questions.

The PARCC exam, or Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, launched in 2015 and was met with criticism from school administrators and parents. They said it was too long and too difficult.

Administrators say they're glad to hear about the testing changes but are remaining guarded as they await them.