Our Stories

Confused About the SB1 Veto?

Aug 2, 2017 0 3 min read

With school starting in just a few weeks, Governor Rauner shut the door on progress by issuing an amendatory veto (AV) of Senate Bill 1 (SB1), the education funding reform bill that provides more money to local schools without any school district losing a penny of state or local funding. The most concerning components of […]

Confused About the Link Between the Budget and School Funding Reform?

Jul 7, 2017 0 4 min read

It all goes hand in hand: you can’t spend money you don’t have through a formula that doesn’t exist. That’s why in order to fix our worst-in-the-nation funding formula, ensure schools open this fall, and put our education system on a path of renewed stability, we need to enact three bills: 1. Senate Bill 1, […]

Confused About the School Funding Bill that Springfield Passed?

Jun 1, 2017 0 6 min read

elementary schoolers siting on a rug in a classroom

Good news from the Capitol! Four long years into the conversation about fixing the worst school funding system in the nation, both the Illinois House and the Senate passed a strong school funding reform bill last night. It’s the closest we’ve seen to getting a solution! The full name of the bill is the Evidence-Based Model […]

State ESSA Plan Heads to Washington

Apr 6, 2017 0 1 min read

Illinois’ plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was submitted to the federal government for review. The plan, which was adopted by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) a few weeks ago, includes plans to close opportunity and achievement gaps. Importantly, it ensures the state’s accountability plan will be inclusive, transparent, and informative […]

We Need to Move Forward, Not Backwards

Feb 28, 2017 0 2 min read

We usually write about developments in the legislature, but there is critical activity involving the State Board of Education with profound implications. Frankly, we’re worried about the direction they are headed. We are worried the Board is about to take major steps backward for Illinois kids by undermining the system that lets parents and educators […]

Poorest Schools Treated Like Piggy Banks

Jan 23, 2017 0 3 min read

TRS Surcharge Continues Taking Federal Funds from Districts to Cover Pension Debt Today, Stand for Children Illinois released an update to its 2015 report that details how Illinois siphons federal funds earmarked for needy students away from school districts to pay pension debt. The practice of tapping federal funds through this TRS federal funds surcharge to cover […]