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Dear Members,
Today, we are excited to announce a statewide advocacy effort — Driving Success: Completing the School Funding Puzzle — a campaign focused on ensuring Illinois continues to fulfill its funding commitments to our public schools, which is an essential component of the Vision 2030 initiative.
As you know, while the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) model has transformed how we invest in student success, districts across the state are facing growing fiscal strain due to the state’s underfunding of mandated services — such as student transportation and special education reimbursements. These are services school districts are required to provide, but the state reimbursements have not kept pace with rising costs.
Our goal in this campaign is simple: to elevate this issue across Illinois, ensuring legislators understand the real impact underfunded mandates have on local classrooms and communities. Together, we will make the case that fully funding mandated services and continuing the state’s investment in EBF are not competing priorities — they are complementary commitments that sustain strong, equitable public schools.
To support you in this effort, we’ve created a series of tools and resources that will be unveiled on December 10, including:
- 📘 A member webinar explaining the issue and outlining key talking points.
- 📄 A customizable one-pager to illustrate your district’s local impact.
- 🌐 A campaign webpage with advocacy resources, background materials, and an EBF refresher toolkit.
Please plan to join us virtually on December 10th at noon for the webinar. Join us as we launch our campaign with a straightforward, practical walkthrough of how EBF and MCAT funding interact, the fiscal pressures districts are facing, and the key messages legislators need to hear in the coming months. This webinar will give you the “why now,” the talking points, and the ready-to-use materials to advocate effectively during budget season. Use the link below to register for the session.
👉CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR👈
We encourage you to explore these materials, share your district’s story, and engage your local legislators over the coming months. Every conversation matters — and your leadership, credibility, and community connections are the most powerful tools we have.
Illinois has made great progress through EBF. Now, it’s time to ensure the foundation beneath that progress — our mandated service reimbursements — is equally strong.
Thank you for lending your voice and partnership to this important effort. Together, we can drive stability, support students, and protect the progress Illinois has made for public education.
Yours for Better Schools,
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