MT. VERNON — State testing is approaching for public school students across Illinois and for third through eighth graders, this year’s test is shorter and has a new name. The PARCC test is now the IAR test, which stands for Illinois Assessment of Readiness.

Local school leaders see what could be multiple benefits to this year’s new testing. Mt. Vernon City Schools’ Curriculum Director Dr. Dee Ann Schnautz says the state is assuring districts that test results will be back to districts sooner.

Schnautz also hopes that a shorter test means less “test anxiety” for students.

The first day the IAR test can be administered online in Illinois is March 11th.