Budget & finance
Preliminary data analyzed by Chalkbeat shows just over 322,000 students were enrolled as of the 20th day of school, when the district takes an official count. The stable number comes after a decade of dramatic annual declines.
The shift raises questions about who schools are serving, how they should be resourced, and what the district — and the city — can do as it continues to lose students.
Illinois lawmakers and school officials want the state to increase funding for school meals to provide meals for all students regardless of income.
The issues include the city’s precarious funding situation, enrollment shifts, and what support will look like for migrant students.
Due to a drop in low-income student enrollment and an increase in local property values, the district could continue to get a smaller share of new state dollars.
The invitation to discuss the budget comes as Johnson tries to involve young people in government decision making.
The budget will allocate roughly $4.8 billion directly to schools. District officials say more money will go to bilingual education and staffing positions that work with students with disabilities.
From increasing early childhood education funding to changing how literacy is taught in schools, Illinois lawmakers passed a number of education bills. Here are some that passed and those that didn’t.
A boost in early childhood education, more funding for K-12 schools, and a major investment in accessing higher education are in the final version of the 2024 budget that the House passed early Saturday morning. It now heads to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk to be signed.
The Illinois governor announced Wednesday that there is a 2024 budget deal with lawmakers. Here’s what it could mean for education.
The controversial Illinois tax credit scholarship program known as Invest In Kids will sunset unless lawmakers agree to an extension. Here’s four things you should know.
The Illinois State Board of Education told after-school providers that due to an error, they will not receive additional funding after fiscal year 2024. Now, students, parents, providers, and school districts are calling on the state board, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and the general assembly to make up the funding to continue programs.
A new report has found that Illinois’ K-12 evidence-based funding formula is working to increase funding for districts that serve students from low-income families, students of color, and students around the state since being implemented in 2017.
Pritzker’s 2024 budget recommendation includes a boost in funding for early childhood education and higher education.
Ayala cites concerns about an economic slowdown
Pritzker said he wants to make Illinois the number one state for making child care accessible to families during his second term in office.
Less than half of the federal COVID money sent to Illinois has been spent by school districts, according to a new data dashboard. The money has so far helped pay for staff, new technology, tutoring, and building repairs.
The Illinois state board of education wants to increase funding for the evidence-based funding formula for K-12 school districts, early childhood programs, and career and technical education. But concerns about an uncertain economy overshadow the process.
The Illinois State Board of Education held its first budget hearing Tuesday. Educators, school leaders, parents, and advocates called for more money for education.
Illinois education advocates gathered for a press conference on Tuesday morning to pressure the state to add more money to the state’s evidence-based funding formula to fully fund schools by 2027.
According to the Illinois board of education’s funding formula, Chicago will receive a smaller than expected share of new state education funding this year.
Board members and community members have raised concerns around community engagement and adverse impacts on other schools in the face of CPS enrollment declines.
The budget restored about $24 million in funding, including $14 million for special education following criticism from parent groups, union leaders, and elected officials.
This will be the third year the district will chip in for its employees’ pensions, an expense the city has previously handled.
Ahead of the monthly board of education meeting, Chicago teachers, parents, elected officials decry proposed budget.
After blowing past a midnight deadline on Friday, Illinois lawmakers emerged with a budget plan that includes more money for K-12 education with tax relief and direct checks to families.
For the first time since 2020, the Illinois governor has proposed an increase in the state’s education budget with investments for students from preschool to higher education.
Increases would go to hire more truancy officers, cover additional transportation and early childhood costs, and put more dollars into the state’s school funding formula.
Most schools with three or more teacher layoffs were shrinking campuses. At least seven of the 22 schools are considered “underutilized” by the district.
Chicago’s charter schools enroll a higher percentage of students with disabilities than traditional public schools, but there is no way to track how much funding goes to those students’ education, according to a new report.
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