Universal free test prep classes gaining momentum in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD -- It was a Sunday afternoon, and State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) was talking with his daughter Tia, who is a rising Sophomore at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and the subject of test preparation classes came up.

“You are not going to believe this dad, but they are letting us take these test prep classes for free,” Tia Ford told her father. “This is a great opportunity if I decide to take the LSAT and apply to law school. Many students can’t afford to even take the LSAT or the MCAT for medical school, but this free program at Howard gives them a real opportunity.”

What started as a conversation on Sunday has blossomed into a serious effort to make Illinois public and community colleges the nation’s leaders in universal test prep, licensure preparation, and credentialing classes.

Rep. Ford, the chairman of the Illinois House Appropriations Higher Education Committee, is hoping to secure $10 million in state funding for free test and licensure prep courses in the state’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

New data shows how successful universal free test, licensure and credentialing prep can be. At Cleveland State University, 440 students have already signed up for universal exam prep, saving students $397,736. Of those 440 students, 41 percent are low-income, and 40 percent are First Generation college students, which means they are the first in their family to go to college.

Examples of the amount of savings for each Illinois college student for test prep would be:

• MCAT (Medical school) exam -- $3,200
• Nursing exam -- $525
• LSAT – (Law school) exam -- $1,600
• Teaching exam -- $400 to $500

Test prep courses can also significantly increase scores on exams. For instance, students can see as much as a 15-point increase on the MCAT exam with test preparation courses.

“These courses can dramatically improve test scores and by providing these classes for free, we can put Illinois on the cutting edge of professional development,” Ford said. “This proposal will benefit students in Chicago, the suburbs, and all across downstate Illinois. We have a chance to offer something no one else is doing at the state level, and it will help students with test and licensing exam skills.”

The proposal has even garnered the support of counselors and advisers at Northern Illinois University College of Law, University of Illinois Chicago, and the CPASS Foundation, which provides “STEM programming for underrepresented Illinois students while impacting policy change, providing access to valuable STEM programs, empowering their STEM identity, supporting them to excel as advocates, and lead social justice efforts in their home communities.”

“By implementing this program, we can narrow the achievement gap and unlock new opportunities for countless talented individuals who may have previously been overlooked due to their test scores,” said Tracie Screven, CPASS Foundation Associate Director, in a written statement. “I kindly request that you (the Legislature) support and advocate for the passage of this proposal in the Illinois House Appropriations Higher Education Committee. By securing the necessary funding and resources, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of students across the state and create a more equitable education system.”

State Rep. Larry Walsh Jr. (D-Elwood) says he is supporting the measure because he sees what the proposal could mean for local colleges such as Joliet Junior College and also what it could mean in terms of keeping graduates in Illinois.

“Test preparation and critical thinking classes have proven to dramatically improve outcomes, but unfortunately many students simply cannot afford them,” Walsh said. “Providing these courses for free at Joliet Junior College and other schools would help keep Illinois students in Illinois and ultimately lead to them launching more successful careers right here in Illinois. The last thing we want is for our students to go to school here and then move to other states. We want to keep our students in Illinois to help grow our economy and move our state forward. A small investment in our students and universities today could become a major factor in the future economic growth in our state.”

Ford said his proposal is gaining momentum in the State Legislature.

“So far, I have not seen any real pushback to the idea,” Ford said. “A lot can happen, though, in these last few days of session and we need to keep pushing this as part of the budget negotiations.”

The Illinois Legislature is expected to pass the state budget by May 31.