CPS, schools statewide want more taxpayer funds from legislature
[November 07, 2026]
By Sean Reed |
The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Despite the state’s increased funding to public
school districts in the budget, school districts want state lawmakers to
find more taxpayer money to fund their operations.
The Illinois House Appropriations committee on Elementary & Secondary
Education on Thursday had a hearing on the future of the state’s
Evidence-Based Funding program, which has increasingly fallen short of
the goals set for it in recent years.
The $9.96 billion Chicago Public Schools budget for the current year
relies on $285 million in local Tax Increment Financing district funds
and $150 million in state funds that have only been promised verbally by
outgoing Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch to address the
district’s $732.5 million deficit.
Acting CPS Chief Budget Officer Emila Zoko said CPS finances aren’t just
an issue this year, but the district has experienced growing needs after
federal COVID-19 funds dried up.
“The costs associated with meeting our students' wide range of needs
continue to grow without dedicated revenue streams able to keep pace.
CPS has faced staggering budget deficits each year since FY25,” Zoko
said.
But CPS wasn’t the only one to argue for more funds – the Chicago
Principals and Administrators Association also urged lawmakers,
alongside the Chicago Teachers Union.
Rep. David Friess, R-Red Bud, said there could be a simple solution for
CPS – closing schools.
“If the economics warrant it, a school should be closed and that'll save
money because you no longer have to have that building, pay custodians
and everything else that goes with that,” Friess said.
Kia Banks, chief of staff to the administrators association, said even
as enrollment is down for CPS this year, they’re still in need and there
is a moratorium on closing public schools under Mayor Brandon Johnson.
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“The declining enrollment and the empty buildings don't
automatically mean that the needs our students have are
disappearing. Regardless of enrollment, our job today is to focus on
the students that are sitting in the classrooms right now, not the
ones who left,” Banks said.
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said earlier this week that she’d be
willing to take the issue to the picket line.
Chanise Stephens from the CTU testified to the needs she sees for
special education funding in particular.
“According to the funding guide, CPS needs $2 billion dollars to
meet the needs that we're not meeting. State support that once
covered 50% of special education costs now cover just 28%,” Stephens
said. “call on the governor and the Illinois General Assembly to
fully fund the evidence-based funding and mandated special education
services.”
Other school districts from across the state also said they need
more funding through the state’s model to meet student needs, with
most unified on the idea that the state should put more funds into
evidence-based funding as soon as possible.
The House and Senate would have six days in their fall veto session
to find a source of revenue, introduce a bill and pass it in both
chambers.
For the funding to take effect immediately, a funding bill would
need 71 votes in the House and 36 in the Senate.
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