Budget & finance

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his plan to increase early education spending would put the state on track to have universal pre-K by 2027.

As federal COVID funds run out, the district is grappling with how to pay for universal preschool going forward.

Illinois superintendent’s budget proposal falls short of what advocates want.

With COVID relief funds set to end and modest increases in local revenue, the Illinois education budget likely won’t see major increases in the upcoming years.

Districts across the nation, including Chicago, have been bracing for financial challenges as their pandemic relief dollars run out.

The mayor’s spending plan builds on his campaign platform that was embraced by the Chicago Teachers Union.

With the deadline to spend federal COVID money coming in September 2024, educators, advocates, and lobbyists urged the state to add more funding for schools in the 2025 budget.

The district is seeking a total of $14.4 billion for updates ranging from new roofs and windows to special classrooms.

Preliminary data analyzed by Chalkbeat shows just over 322,000 students were enrolled as of the 20th day of school, when the district takes an official count. The stable number comes after a decade of dramatic annual declines.

The shift raises questions about who schools are serving, how they should be resourced, and what the district — and the city — can do as it continues to lose students.

Illinois lawmakers and school officials want the state to increase funding for school meals to provide meals for all students regardless of income.

The issues include the city’s precarious funding situation, enrollment shifts, and what support will look like for migrant students.

Due to a drop in low-income student enrollment and an increase in local property values, the district could continue to get a smaller share of new state dollars.

The invitation to discuss the budget comes as Johnson tries to involve young people in government decision making. 

The budget will allocate roughly $4.8 billion directly to schools. District officials say more money will go to bilingual education and staffing positions that work with students with disabilities.

From increasing early childhood education funding to changing how literacy is taught in schools, Illinois lawmakers passed a number of education bills. Here are some that passed and those that didn’t.

A boost in early childhood education, more funding for K-12 schools, and a major investment in accessing higher education are in the final version of the 2024 budget that the House passed early Saturday morning. It now heads to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk to be signed.

The Illinois governor announced Wednesday that there is a 2024 budget deal with lawmakers. Here’s what it could mean for education.

The controversial Illinois tax credit scholarship program known as Invest In Kids will sunset unless lawmakers agree to an extension. Here’s four things you should know.

The Illinois State Board of Education told after-school providers that due to an error, they will not receive additional funding after fiscal year 2024. Now, students, parents, providers, and school districts are calling on the state board, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and the general assembly to make up the funding to continue programs.