Calling All Legislators: Sign the Pledge!
The Evidence-Based Funding Formula was created in 2017 after five years of diligent study, intense advocacy, and hard-fought negotiation. At the time, Illinois had the single most inequitable funding system in the nation. The law established a goal of adding $350M to Evidence-Based Funding every year. That goal has been met each year but one.
An evaluation of the program shows the new funding has had the biggest impact on the most underfunded districts, exactly as intended. Evidence-Based Funding is working, but $350M is a floor, not a ceiling. At the rate of $350M per year, it will likely take two more decades to fully fund our schools compared to $550M, which would get us there in half the time.
Dedicating funds to address education disparities and disruptions like learning gaps, academic losses, and chronic absenteeism is critical to lifting students out of poverty. Children entering pre-K today will graduate before Illinois’ schools have the funding they need if we do not act now. We need a realistic plan to reach full funding within a decade!
Sign the Pledge to be an Education and Equity Champion if You
- Believe all Illinois students deserve a fully-resourced school, no matter their background or zip code.
- Believe the annual increase of $350M in Evidence-Based Funding is a floor, not a ceiling.
- Will collaborate toward a solution to fully and sustainably fund Illinois’ public education system.
