FIF Response to FY26 State Budget

Today, the Illinois General Assembly appropriated $307 million in new funding for the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula in the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. In a year marked by fiscal constraints and difficult budget decisions, we commend the General Assembly for prioritizing education and upholding its commitment to invest in what we know works. However, it’s important to acknowledge that this increase falls short of the minimum funding level required by statute for EBF. The minimum funding level is $350M with $50M being allocated to the Property Tax Relief Grant. In FY26 the state will forego this appropriation and all $307 will be directed through the model straight to school districts.

At a time when public education faces mounting challenges and years of progress are at risk of being undone, this increase in EBF is both meaningful and necessary. It reflects a shared understanding that equitable, adequate funding is essential to providing every student the opportunity to succeed. 

This critical investment moves us closer to adequacy, but Illinois remains over $2 billion short of full funding for all districts. Over 1.3 million students still attend schools in underfunded districts. These inequities are especially felt in districts that serve students from low-income backgrounds, English language learners, Black and Latinx students, and those from rural and urban school communities.

Parents, students, educators, and school leaders from all corners of the state experience the consequences of these funding gaps, especially those in under-resourced communities. The current level of investment, while vital, still falls short of what is needed to meet the full range of student needs.  At the current rate, we will not have fully funded schools in Illinois until 2038. To truly ensure educational equity and opportunity for all, Illinois must continue its commitment to closing the adequacy gap and fully funding every district.

As Ethan Smith, a student from Springfield, reminds us:
“Thousands of students depend on our public schools every day to learn, grow, and prepare for the future. With strong funding, we can make sure students have great teachers, up-to-date textbooks and resources, working computers, safe buildings, and programs like music, sports, and after-school activities that make school a place we actually want to be. Without enough funding, important things start to disappear—and students are the ones who lose out.”

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Funding Illinois’ Future is a geographically diverse coalition of parents, civic and faith leaders, and educators that remains steadfast in its mission: to ensure that every student in Illinois has access to a high-quality, fully funded education. We celebrate this progress and thank the Governor and the General Assembly, while recognizing the journey ahead. Our advocacy will not waver until every school in Illinois has the resources it needs and every student receives the education they deserve.