(The Center Square) – The recently released Illinois Report Card shows some growth in multiple areas, with proficiency rates in English/Language Arts, Math and Science all increasing year-over-year. State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, said students’ proficiency rates should be improving because the taxpayers have poured an additional $350 million each year over the past five years into education funding. “We are spending over $10 billion just from the state of Illinois, plus the local contributions and the federal dollars that are following. It’s a record number of dollars that we’re pour…