Here in Illinois, children in our highest-need school districts have been underfunded for far too long.

This year, our leaders in Springfield have an opportunity to fix the way schools are funded. A bill called Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) has passed through the House and Senate which would provide every school with the fair funding they deserve. Soon, SB 1 will need the approval of Governor Rauner. Before then, here’s what you need to know about the bill, and it’s positive impact on schools throughout the state:

• Illinois currently distributes the least amount of state funding for public education in the country. This means that districts depend on local tax dollars to fund public district and charter schools, putting poor neighborhoods at a disadvantage due to a lower tax base.
• SB 1, if passed, would provide fair funding for education to every district in the state. SB 1 would provide more funding to the districts that need it most while ensuring that no district anywhere in the state, regardless of local income level, loses funding.
• Charter public school students – who are overwhelmingly located in our state’s low-income communities – currently receive as little as 75% of the per pupil funding that other public school students do. That’s why it is even more imperative that the neighborhoods we work with receive equal funding through SB 1.

The primary goal of Elevate Chicago is to provide equal opportunity to all children and families, regardless of their zip code. That’s why, as a coalition, we find it so necessary to support Senate Bill 1.

We encourage you to reach out to your legislator and let them know how much SB1 means to you as a charter school parent and Elevate Chicago coalition member. https://chartersforchange.org/sb1/