Advocacy

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. In fact, CPS is only funded at 70 percent of what the state itself considers “adequate.” In addition, growing student needs, rising deficits, higher costs, and potential federal cuts to education make our funding situation even more urgent.

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 school would benefit directly from more funding for nutrition, special education, transportation, or early childhood education — how would that improve the student experience?

Your voice is your power — here are a few ways you can speak up for more funding:

Use these links to:

Look up who your state legislators are
Find contact information for your state senator
Find contact information for your state representative
Call the Governor’s Office at 217-782-6830 or submit a written comment to the Governor’s Office

Here is some suggested language to use for a call or an email to your state lawmakers.What is particularly impactful is if you include personal details about what more funding would mean for your school, your students and your neighborhood. For example:

What is your vision for your child’s school, the school in your neighborhood, or CPS in general?
How is the school an important part of your neighborhood or community?
What programs are working for students that you want to protect?
What programs or resources are you concerned about losing if schools are not fully funded?

Writing a Letter to the Editor for a local newspaper is a great way to make your voice heard. Here are some guiding questions to help you create a letter:

What is your vision for your child’s school, the school in your neighborhood, or CPS in general?
How is the school an important part of your neighborhood or community?
What programs are working for students that you want to protect?
What programs or resources are you concerned about losing if schools are not fully funded?

Please follow the drafting and submission guidelines below for major Chicago newspapers.

You can also submit a Letter to the Editor to your local community newspaper; submission guidelines are typically found on the newspaper’s website.

CPS will be leading two trips to Springfield this fall to meet with lawmakers on Tuesday, November 17, and Tuesday, December 1. There are a limited number of seats available on buses for parents and community partners who wish to travel to Springfield. Click this link to sign up and reserve your spot. More details to come. Please note, this opportunity is not available to CPS staff and students, as both November 17 and December 1 are instructional days.

CPS Advocacy Toolkit

Support Our Campaign for More Funding from Springfield

Make Your Voice Heard