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Hosts say Illinois schools lag despite high spending; reading proficiency figures cited
Summary
On the June 5 broadcast, hosts criticized K–12 outcomes in Illinois, saying many graduates lack grade-level literacy and citing a claim that roughly 40% of public school students read at grade level statewide, lower in some cities.
Terry Martin and Jeff Berkowitz spent part of the program pressing on K–12 outcomes in Illinois, arguing that high spending has not produced commensurate results. Martin said many students 'can't read at grade level' and described some diploma recipients as 'virtually illiterate.'
Berkowitz cited a figure during the discussion: "At best, of the 2,000,000 public school students, at best, 40% read at grade level," and said proficiency is lower in many areas and in Chicago for Hispanic and Black students. Both hosts used those statistics to argue the legislature and governor have not enacted meaningful education reforms, and they contrasted spending rank with student outcomes.
The broadcast did not provide an independent citation for the proficiency figures during the segment; the hosts framed the point as motivation for broader policy change rather than reporting a verified statewide study on air.
