Macon Reporter

Illinois state senator and gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey desires to uplift the quality of education in the state.

He isn't satisfied with the limited choices of schools parents can send their children to and does not have the option to find schools that can craft competitiveness and skills at grade level.

"Our education system is failing our kids and it is especially failing minority students," Bailey said. "It is time to empower parents with real choices when it comes to the education of their children. At a minimum, we need to allow parents to choose which public school to send their children [to]. Relegating kids – especially minority kids – to failing schools simply on the basis of where they live is wrong. Competition is good and healthy and brings out the best in all of us. We need competition in our education system. We need schools competing for enrollment. It will force schools to strive to do better and it will be a benefit to parents who will finally have a choice in where to send their kids to school. Parents should not be compelled to send their kids to a school where only a fraction of kids can read at grade level. Failing schools have had plenty of time and plenty of resources to get it right. We need a new approach and we need it now."

The achievement gap for Decatur School District 61 third graders was first reported by Wirepoints. 

“Our assessment is harsh because student outcomes are beyond dismal and no one, it seems, takes any responsibility for them,” Wirepoints noted, according to the Madison - St. Clair Record. According to the Illinois State Board of Education Report Card, the school district has only 2% of students reading at grade level and only 1% doing math at grade level. 

In a Facebook video post commemorating D-Day, Bailey stated his plans of changing the state board of education if he wins the gubernatorial race.

"As governor, I will make sure that the new state board of education will be working to make sure that our children are reminded, taught of history and its importance to make that we will never go back to where we've come from, and remember our brave men and women who serve all throughout history," he said.

Morning Answer co-host Dan Proft called the lack of achievement in this school district and others “civilization-ending.”

Bailey is presently a member of the Illinois State Senate's Education Committee. His long history in education leadership includes founding a Christian school in southern Illinois, and previously serving on the North Clay Unit 25 Board of Education for 17 years.