FIF Response to Governor Pritzker’s FY26 Budget Address

Today, during his State of the State/Budget Address, Governor Pritzker proposed a $350 million increase for the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula in his FY26 budget proposal. We acknowledge the state’s financial challenges and appreciate the Governor’s continued commitment to education, but this investment does not meet the urgent needs of Illinois students. Three out of four Illinois students still attend underfunded schools. As recent state and national assessments make plain, our students cannot afford another year of inadequate funding. 

When EBF was passed, state leaders committed to fully funding our schools by 2027. However, at the current pace of adding $350 million in new funds annually, many of today’s students will graduate without ever experiencing a fully funded education. That is a failure Illinois cannot afford to accept.

An investment of $350 million simply does not go as far as it once did. Due to inflation, the same $350 million investment in 2017 now falls $100 million short of achieving the same impact. Put simply, schools are being asked to do more with less, stretching already-limited resources to address academic recovery and meet rising social, emotional, and mental health issues. Student needs have grown, and our investment must grow with them. If we expect better outcomes, we must provide better funding. 

Increasing EBF funding is not just an investment—it is a commitment to equity. Students from low-income households, students of color, and English Learners remain disproportionately concentrated in Illinois’ most underfunded districts in Illinois’ urban areas as well as its rural communities. Without a more significant investment, these students in particular will continue to face systemic barriers to success. Recognizing these disparities is not enough. Without bold action, opportunity gaps will only widen.

The message is clear: Illinois cannot afford to underfund its future. This is not only a budgetary decision—it is a decision that will define the future of our state. The Funding Illinois’ Future Coalition, composed of educators, parents, civic and faith-based leaders, agrees:

Fully funding the Evidence-Based Funding formula isn’t just the right choice—it’s the most effective and equitable way to ensure every Illinois student has access to the resources they need to succeed, no matter their ZIP code. And for parents, this fight is deeply personal:

“Equitable education funding is not just a policy issue for me; it’s a personal one that impacts the quality of education my children receive. Every child deserves access to the same high-quality resources, dedicated teachers, and enriching learning environments, regardless of their background or where they live. When funding is equitable, it helps to bridge the gap between communities, ensuring that all children can thrive academically and socially. For my children, equitable funding means smaller class sizes, access to advanced coursework, extracurricular opportunities, and a safe, nurturing school environment. It means that they will have the same chances to pursue their dreams as any other child, no matter their circumstances.”

We will continue to advocate and call on the General Assembly to act in the best interest of Illinois students and increase EBF funding beyond $350 million. Now is the time for bold leadership. Illinois students can’t wait.

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Funding Illinois’ Future (FIF)  is a coalition of more than 100 school districts, leaders, parents, educators, community, civic and faith-based organizations that helped fix Illinois’ school funding formula in 2017 with our advocacy for the historic implementation of the K-12 Evidence-based Funding Formula (EBF). We are now focused on the goal of equitable and adequate funding for all K-12 schools, and providing every Illinois student with the excellent education they deserve.