For Immediate Release
May 2, 2007
ISBE Chairman Ruiz addresses thousands at Capitol
rally for education funding
Springfield, Ill. – Illinois
State Board of Education (ISBE) Chairman Jesse H. Ruiz
today joined thousands of
parents, students, educators and education advocates
at a statehouse rally in Springfield to call for increased
education funding. Chairman Ruiz was one of several speakers
at the Capitol Action Rally for Education today that
called
for legislators to work together now to reform how Illinois
funds its schools.
“Our schools have been chronically underfunded
for years. The time is now for the legislature to pass
Governor Blagojevich’s Helping Kids Learn plan,” said
Chairman Ruiz. “Helping Kids Learn will pump an
additional $10 billion into our schools, as well as invest
$1.5 billion in school construction.”
Thousands rallied on the steps of the state Capitol
today as part of the Capitol Action Rally for Education
(CARE) where speakers and parents alike voiced support
for state lawmakers to pass school funding reform during
this spring’s legislative session. Other events
included a pre-rally staging at Springfield’s Prairie
Capitol Convention Center and a march through the city’s
downtown.
“There is no magic formula to improving our schools,
but we know that if we give students better places to
learn, good teachers and administrators and better materials,
our students learning will improve,” said Ruiz. “Helping
Kids Learn does just that, it gives our students the
resources they need for success.”
Helping Kids Learn boosts funding by an unprecedented
$1.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2008. Under the plan:
- General State Aid to schools will increase by $800
million to $6,058 per student;
- An increase of $200
million will boost the state’s
reimbursement rate for special education teachers – the
first increase districts have seen since 1985;
- An increase
of $153 million will fully fund ‘mandated
categorical’ programs like special education
and transportation;
- An additional $69 million will
accelerate implementation of Preschool for All and
additional resources will
be made available for school districts that provide
full-day
kindergarten;
- Underperforming schools will share $100
million in new support for after school tutoring, curriculum
and
textbook
enhancements, longer school days or other proven strategies
that raise student achievement;
- And Illinois’ deteriorating
school buildings will find relief in a $1.5 billion
capital construction
plan
for projects to improve and upgrade classrooms and
schools.
In addition to Chairman Ruiz, other speakers included
Arne Duncan, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Ken Swanson,
president of the Illinois Education Association and Maria
Whelan, president and CEO of Illinois Action for Children.
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