Despite state funding increase, gap to adequately fund schools widens in most Illinois districts
Chicago Public Schools is further away from having enough money to meet its students’ needs as defined by the state, according to new data released by the Illinois State Board of Education. Under ISBE’s calculations released Friday, CPS is now considered a little over 70% adequately…
The gap in funding for schools within many Illinois districts is widening despite a state increase in financial support, according to new data from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). CPS, Chicago Public Schools, remains 70% adequately funded, compared to 73% the year prior. Over 700 school districts have regressed from the state's target of 90% funding adequacy, a metric determined by evaluating a district's student population and ability to cover common cost factors.
This backslide is attributed to changes in the calculation of low-income students, specifically those eligible for federal social programs as of July 1, including Medicaid and SNAP. The rising number of low-income students, a 43% increase this year, and decreased property tax revenues, coupled with increases in teacher salaries and instructional material costs, are driving districts away from adequate funding.
Illinois law assumes that students with higher needs cost more to educate, and the fluctuation in the number of low-income students affects the adequacy targets for each district. Despite a $350 million increase in state education funding, Chicago Public Schools will receive $1.9 billion for the 2026-27 school year, which is slightly below the $2 billion the Chicago Board of Education had hoped for.
Written by urgent.news from Chalkbeat's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
