SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has approved a budget request of nearly $11.4 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, marking a 4.6% increase from the previous year. This request includes increases for key education funding programs despite the state’s expected $3.2 billion revenue shortfall. The budget prioritizes educational needs, including a $350 million boost to “Evidence-Based Funding,” which targets the state’s most needy school districts. Other increases include $142 million for mandatory categorical aid and $75 million for early childhood education.
The state’s reliance on local property taxes for school funding has led to significant inequities, and the Evidence-Based Funding law, enacted in 2017, aims to address this by directing additional funding to the neediest districts. However, despite the progress, many districts still remain below their adequacy targets. Bringing all districts up to at least 90% of their adequacy target would require an additional $2.6 billion, according to ISBE.
Although the state faces a fiscal shortfall, ISBE Superintendent Tony Sanders expressed confidence that Governor JB Pritzker and lawmakers will manage to balance the budget while maintaining their commitment to public education funding. The Governor will present his budget proposal on February 19.