Illinois Blog

The Hechinger Report recently interviewed two CPS parents that are facing some aspect of the school closings--be it as a parent within a receiving school, or one that will be closed. Both parents are members of Stand for Children but their experiences and their views regarding school closings are very different. This issue is a difficult one with parents on both sides of the debate having very real concerns about what the closings will mean for their child's education.

Greetings from Springfield,

It’s been a busy week in the legislature as the May 31 adjournment date is getting close. Our biggest legislative priority this session has been to protect education funding and enhance funding equity. Regardless of where they live, all children should have the same right to a high-quality public education that prepares them for college or a successful career. But that’s not happening in Illinois, where we have the second-most regressive school funding system in the nation.

A flurry of activity is happening in Springfield today around this idea of a 'Pension Cost Shift'.  What is a 'cost shift' and why is this important for our most at-risk kids?

Check out our Government Affairs Director, Jessica Handy, talk with Illinois Watchdog reporter, Ben Yount, about how important this issue is for fair funding - and then check out his article. 

A September 2012 Center for American Progress study reaffirms what we’ve known for decades:  There are tremendous funding inequities between high- and low-poverty school districts in Illinois. We have the second most inequitable education funding system of any state, largely due to our heavy reliance on property taxes.