Support Our Campaign for More Funding from Springfield
Public schools in Chicago and across the state have been chronically underfunded by the State of Illinois. Rising costs, looming deficits, and potential federal cuts to education make our funding situation even more urgent.
CPS is asking the state to support our students in three specific ways:
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Increase Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) for public education across Illinois to $550 million each year
Eight years ago, state lawmakers created a new formula to increase public school funding based on student need. The goal was full funding by 2027, but that goal is unlikely to be reached, and CPS remains massively underfunded according to the formula.
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Increase Support for Nutrition, Special Education, and Transportation to $165 million across Illinois
CPS requires additional support to serve students who receive free and reduced-cost meals, and a growing population of students with disabilities, including those who require transportation to and from school.
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Increase Support for Early Childhood Education for Illinois schools to $75 million
Pre-K gives our youngest learners a vital foundation for their educational journey, which is why CPS has expanded our Pre-K offerings to every neighborhood in Chicago. But we need additional support to continue offering preschool citywide.
Make Your Voice Heard
The best way to support this campaign is to speak up and talk about how more funding would benefit you and your school community. What would you use the money for? More arts and music program offerings? Greater support for students falling behind academically? A new after-school program or sports team? If your student would benefit directly from more funding for nutrition, special education, transportation, or early childhood education — how would that improve their school experience? Your voice is your power — tell your story!
Materials From Our Partners
Our partners at the Funding Illinois’ Future coalition have created a series of resources to support this statewide campaign. This coalition — which included CPS — successfully fought to increase state funding for public education eight years ago, and CPS is working with this coalition again this year to advocate for additional funding.
Materials From Our Partners
Our partners at the Funding Illinois’ Future coalition have created a series of resources to support this statewide campaign. This coalition — which included CPS — successfully fought to increase state funding for public education eight years ago, and CPS is working with this coalition again this year to advocate for additional funding.