...[I]n December, the Illinois State Board of Education, or ISBE, passed a new rule that would require culturally responsive teaching and leading standards to be incorporated in all Illinois teacher preparation programs. Critics of the proposed standards have said they require educators to embrace left-leaning ideology and prioritize political and social activism in classrooms at a time when Illinois students are underperforming on basic skills tests...

Critics have pointed out that the requirements essentially impose an ideological litmus test on educators, making any teacher who does not espouse certain views unwelcome in Illinois schools. In their original form, the provisions were explicitly left-leaning, and educators were required to "embrace and encourage progressive viewpoints and perspectives." After opponents of the new rule brought public attention to the language, the word "progressive" was replaced with "inclusive," but this has not alleviated the concern that the standard is aimed at pushing a political agenda on Illinois educators and schools.

Critics of the new rule have also expressed concern that at a time when so many Illinois students are failing to achieve basic competency in reading and math — exacerbated by pandemic-related learning loss — pushing regulations on "politically-charged topics, including race, gender identity and the role of power, privilege and student activism" is not the proper focus of Illinois’ education establishment. As of 2019, only 38% of Illinois students in grades 3 through 8 met or exceeded Illinois Assessment of Readiness standards for English language arts, according to ISBE, and a mere 32% of students met or exceeded standards in math.