Why Illinois Must Fully Fund Education Now

Claiborne Wade, chair of Kids First Chicago’s Equitable Funding Task Force, CPS parent, and staff member at DePriest Elementary, presses the state board and state legislators to guarantee more adequate education funding in the FY2026 budget.

By Claiborne Wade | January 13, 2025 |
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Claiborne and his kids advocate in Springfield, May 2024.

This Wednesday, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will vote on its FY2026 budget recommendations—an opportunity to champion additional funding for K–12 education in the coming school year. But let’s be clear: even if ISBE ultimately recommends no more than the current $350 million annual increase, Governor Pritzker and the state legislature still wield the power to appropriate more funding.

Illinois cannot afford to miss this moment.

As a father of four spirited Chicago Public Schools (CPS) scholars—well-behaved at least most of the time—my wife and I are acutely aware of the system’s challenges. Despite the unwavering dedication of teachers and staff, chronic underfunding continues to strain our schools. This firsthand experience has only solidified my resolve to advocate for the quality education our children deserve.

Serving on Kids First Chicago’s Parent Advisory Board, chairing our Equitable Funding Task Force, and working as a Sustainable Community Schools coordinator at a West Side CPS elementary school has reinforced my belief that parents are the backbone of every school’s culture. Now is the time for parents across Illinois to unite and demand the resources our schools desperately need.

Recently, tensions between CPS, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois have come to a head. Each entity is pointing fingers over how to lift our public school system out of a deep financial crisis while still providing essential resources for more than 325,000 children.

CPS alone is underfunded by a staggering $1.2 billion, depriving students of crucial services necessary for both academic and social-emotional development. Yet this crisis extends far beyond Chicago, affecting more than 1.3 million students in underfunded districts statewide.

The State of Illinois’ Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula, implemented in 2017, represented meaningful progress toward more equitable school financing. Since its inception, EBF has directed over $2.1 billion in new funds to under-resourced districts, shrinking the number of districts funded below 60% adequacy from 168 to zero. However, despite these gains, our momentum has slowed. If Illinois continues to rely on an annual increase of just $350 million, our schools won’t be fully funded until 2038—meaning yet another generation of students will pass through under-resourced classrooms.

And let’s not forget that inflation has not paused. What $350 million could purchase in 2017 now requires $450 million. An annual increase set nearly a decade ago is no longer enough. That is why I, alongside many parents, students, and educators, urge the state to appropriate at least $550 million in new EBF investments. This infusion will accelerate our path to full funding, benefiting hundreds of thousands of students sooner rather than later.

My trip to Springfield last spring revealed the power of direct advocacy. Legislators pay attention when constituents show up, share their experiences, and make clear demands. But one parent can only do so much; the real leverage lies in collective action. When parents from every corner of the state unite and amplify their voices, real change becomes possible. We need more parents telling their stories—highlighting disparities and demanding equitable funding for our schools.

The equity imperative is undeniable. Statewide data shows that 85% of students from low-income households, 82% of English Learners, and 88% of Black students attend underfunded districts like CPS. Increasing the EBF investment is the only way to begin repairing these longstanding injustices.

Robust public education funding pays dividends for everyone. Well-funded schools lead to better educational outcomes, which in turn boost the economy, raise earnings, and reduce unemployment. Additionally, when districts can provide the necessary wraparound services, we see reductions in crime and improvements in long-term health outcomes. Investing in our children’s education is an investment in the future of our state.

We are also at a critical juncture because federal COVID-19 stimulus funds that briefly bolstered school budgets are expiring. Other revenue sources are projected to decline, posing another potential funding crisis for many Illinois districts. If the state fails to increase its investment, recent academic recovery gains risk being lost, setting our children further back.

So, what can parents do? We can speak up—loudly and persistently. Attend City Council and CPS board meetings, reach out to your state senators and representatives, and contact Governor Pritzker. Join advocacy groups fighting for increased funding and share your story about how underfunding affects your child. Multiply your impact by encouraging friends and neighbors to do the same.

Above all, remember that if ISBE doesn’t go beyond $350 million in its recommendations, the governor and the state legislature still hold the power to do more.

How much more longer do our students have to suffer? How much more longer do we have to continue to delay their education? How much more longer do we have to dim the lights on their futures?

Let’s not allow another generation of students to pass through an underfunded education system.

Our scholars deserve better—and as parents, we have the power to demand it.

Claiborne Wade, a CPS parent and member of Kids First Chicago’s Parent Advisory Board, works at a CPS neighborhood school in the Austin community on Chicago’s West Side.

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Robust public education funding pays dividends for everyone. Well-funded schools lead to better educational outcomes, which in turn boost the economy, raise earnings, and reduce unemployment. Additionally, when districts can provide the necessary wraparound services, we see reductions in crime and improvements in long-term health outcomes. Investing in our children’s education is an investment in the future of our state.

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