Tag: Illinois Budget

Yesterday Was Not a Win

Illinois passed a budget yesterday to ensure that schools would open in the fall ­ this was not a win. Legislators did nothing but pass a stopgap budget. Speaker Madigan touts this effort as an achievement. But this “achievement” is merely a Band­Aid on a fractured spine. This stopgap budget only came about because the party needed to be able…

Gov. Rauner, Don’t Call Yourself a Charter School Supporter Until You Fund Our Schools

The war between Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats in the state’s General Assembly has claimed its first charter casualty: Chicago’s Galapagos Charter School. More than likely, more will follow. That’s because charter schools are public schools, and in Illinois, that means they too are subject to our inadequate, unfair school funding formula and our record-setting budget stalemate. If Chicago Public Schools takes the…

Illinois Must Have A Budget For Our Schools By August 1st! #TheClockIsTicking

Dear Legislators, I am writing today because parent voice needs to be uplifted and amplified in discussions that affect children and families. I, along with hundreds of other parents, am extremely concerned about the lack of public school funding and the anticipated additional budget cuts that will dramatically affect our students in Chicago. The Illinois State Constitution promises “the state…

Low-income school districts caught in a statistical crossfire

As the wait for an Illinois budget continues, schools across the state are searching for alternative ways to secure funding. Low-income schools are stuck in the middle. “When the Republicans talk about how much Chicago spends per pupil, they always inflate the number by counting the money CPS puts into its pension fund,” Manar said. “Then they compare that to…

Join the #Budget4IL Twitter Chat on May 17th!

What will it take to get equitable funding in Illinois? That seems to be the mystery question as the state waits for Gov. Bruce Rauner to approve a budget. Join us on May 17, 2016 at 8 p.m. as we discuss the matter at hand. Our panel includes: Chris Butler (Chicago Unheard), Peter Cunningham (Education Post) and Marilyn Rhames (Teachers Who…