Springfield Update

Last Friday was the deadline to file bills for consideration in the Illinois General Assembly's regular session. Though more proposals could be tacked on to existing bills, we now have a sense of the education-related proposals being considered this session. Here's an overview, with thanks to Chris LeSuer of the Chicago Public Education Fund, whose weekly emails have kept me in the loop.

State education funding. Though the state faces a $2.2 billion deficit, Governor JB Pritzker and the legislature are under pressure to boost funds for K-12 education. Back in January, the Illinois State Board of Education voted to request that the governor increase base funding for K-12 education by $350 million. That's in line with previous increases since 2018, when the state revamped the way it funds schools. Last year's increase was slightly smaller, $307 million. Since 2018, the state has invested an additional $2.8 billion into schools, moving Illinois from among the least-funded schools in the country to 18th among states for school funding.

But Illinois is far off track from its goal to fully fund schools by 2027, as envisioned in 2018. This session, state Senator Graciela Guzmán and Representative Will Davis, both Democrats, filed identical bills in each chamber that would require the state to meet the 2027 funding deadline. That would require a much larger infusion of cash--anywhere between $550 million and over $1 billion, Rep. Davis told Chalkbeat Chicago. Raising that much revenue would require new taxes. They could include expanding the sales tax to include services and increasing the income tax while offering tax relief to low and middle-income households--a workaround to effectively create a progressive income tax without having to change the state's constitution.

Fixing Chicago Public Schools' finances. In addition to the efforts to increase funds for schools across the state, state Senator Robert Martwick has proposed two bills that could lighten the school district's pension burden and clarify responsibility for paying into the city pension fund that covers non-teaching CPS staff. Martwick proposes that the state take over responsibility for paying into the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund, and that CPS pay a share of the city pension fund proportionate to the share of CPS employees covered by it.

Other Chicago-specific bills. Rep. Marcus Evans, Jr. has proposed allowing the Chicago Board of Education to set compensation for board members. Another Guzmán bill would allow student Local School Council members to vote on budgets and principal selection. Rep. Jaime Andrade's bill would clarify that school co-location does not include the temporary use of vacant school space when the school using the space continues to operate its existing building in a separate location.

Other statewide proposals. Rep. Jackie Haas proposes universal dyslexia screening for all K-2 students. Though Gov. Pritzker's effort to pass a ban on cell phones in class last year failed, Sen. Erica Harriss now proposes requiring districts to adopt cell phone policies limiting their use during class time "to the greatest extent possible." To address challenges in hiring staff, companion bills in the House and Senate would permit expedited, short-term approval for paraprofessionals to work in schools without having completed licensing requirements.

There are plenty more bills in play this session. Board Rule will keep you posted as it becomes clearer which ones will gain traction.

Agenda Review Committee Preview

The full meeting agenda is available here. Here are some noteworthy items.

School-year calendars. After board members pressed pause on approving school calendars for 2026-27 and 2027-28, the calendars are back on the agenda. On a quick once-over, I don't see very much change from the previously proposed calendars. In both years, the second quarter will end after winter break. At the January board meeting, Member Anusha Thotakura asked the district to survey parents to see if they would prefer to start earlier in August in order to finish second quarter before winter break.

Acero Update. The five Acero campuses are to be added to the Chicago Public Schools' master lease with the Archdiocese of Chicago, a concrete sign that the schools are coming under the direct control of CPS. It's also a reminder that the school district's effort to co-locate Acero Cisneros with Shields Elementary was roundly rejected by both school communities.

Electric Buses. Five transportation companies have been chosen to lease and operate the 50 electric school buses CPS obtained through a 2023 EPA Clean School Bus Grant. The chosen vendors are: A. M. Bus Company, Ammons Transportation Service, Compass Transportation LLC, Illinois Central School Bus LLC, and Sunrise Transportation LLC.

Principal Contracts. Former Metcalfe Elementary teacher Kelli Stanley has met the eligibility requirements to be a principal and is now the contract principal at Young Elementary. Contract renewals to be approved by the board in February: Rhea Bush, Skinner, Donnell Rader, Beasley, Latoya Lyons, W. Brown Elementary, Kerrin Quezada, Moos Elementary, Ann Mcnally, Stock Elementary, Barbara Karrel, Alcott Elementary, and Adriana Arias, Nightingale Elementary.

Charter Renewal Delays. The board will consider extending the "rescission dates" for charter renewal agreements from 2025 that have yet to be finalized. I'm told that some renewals are still under discussion due to the charter resolution passed last May. Expect more from Board Rule on this topic soon.

These charters have yet to finalize their renewals with CPS: Chicago International Charter Schools (CICS), Urban Prep, Alain Locke, Passages, ASPIRA, Catalyst Schools, EPIC Academy (which will close in June), Erie Charter, Horizon Science Academy Southwest, Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy, North Lawndale College Prep, Perspectives, Providence Englewood, and Rowe Elementary. Agreements with alternative school programs, including the Youth Connection Charter School, Ombudsman, and Pathways, are also still not final.