The Illinois State Board of Education approved a preliminary 2003 budget Friday that calls for a $250 million spending increase, much of it directed toward struggling schools and teacher training.
The proposed $6.4 billion budget, which must be approved by the state legislature, represents a 4 percent increase from the current level.
More than half the new money–about $127 million–is to be used for education programs in the state’s 891 school districts. The rest is to go to the teachers retirement fund.
Despite the proposed spending boost, state school board members lamented that they couldn’t spend more on the state’s 1.9 million public school children.
“I’ll have to hold my nose and vote yes on this one,” said board member Connie Rogers.
Board Chairman Ron Gidwitz noted, “I would much prefer to see us adding significantly to the $250 million, but it’s not realistic. The state doesn’t have the money.”
The board will present the budget to state legislators in the spring.
The state board based its budget request on Gov. George Ryan’s 1998 campaign pledge to direct 51 percent of all new state revenues to education and job training. Under current projections, the pledge means the state school board would get the additional $250 million.
Wanda Taylor, a spokeswoman for the governor’s office, said Friday that Ryan intends to keep his promise.
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The proposed budget includes an increase in the state-guaranteed minimum per-pupil funding level. The amount would rise to $4,680 per pupil from $4,560. The state sends the money to districts based on student enrollment and district wealth.
The preliminary budget also includes about $6 million for a new teacher-mentoring program, an additional $11 million for schools where students struggle academically, and an added $14.5 million for early-childhood education programs.