Unfair politics hurts underfunded schools

Why did Chicago Public Schools D299 get $76 million of additional new money from the state in 2026. D299 received about $25 million the previous three years.

In 2017, we were told evidence-based funding would help the poorest school districts the most and have our public schools fully funded by 2027. The funding deficit grew by $528 million last year to a total of about $3.3 billion.

D299 funding was 79% adequate in 2025 and dropped down to 73% in 2026. Meaning the district is poorer and needs more funding. The state considers 90% fully funded.

So why did the state give Chicago D299 an additional $51 million when there were 159 school districts who were poorer?

Those 159 school districts averaged 68% adequacy as per the Illinois State Board of Education Evidence-based funding FY2026 Quick Facts report. Those 159 districts received $143 million in new money and need an additional $211 million to be 73% adequate like Chicago's D299. These 159 districts should have been given the $51 million instead of D299.

I asked Illinois state Sen. Craig Wilcox and Dr. John Burkey, the Executive Director of LUDA, about this. I asked them if there is a formula to make sure that the poorest school districts get the new money first. I was told no. Politics is involved here. Chicago has a lot of power. I said that is not right, the poorer schools should get the money first.

Residents of Rockford D205 65% adequate, Rantoul D193 64% adequate, Peoria D150 65%, Moline D40 67% and other districts need to get your school boards to speak up and get your fair share of funding. If you do not, Chicago D299 will get your funding again. Evidence-based funding gets a D.

Jim Yaworski

Crystal Lake