Overview
- The Chicago Teachers Union and Illinois Federation of Teachers held public events this week calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to convene a special session and secure billions in new funding for K–12 schools.
- Chicago Board of Education member Jitu Brown said Illinois ‘owes’ about $2 billion to adequately fund and repair harm to students and asked Mayor Brandon Johnson to repeat his December 2025 $1 billion TIF sweep for Chicago Public Schools.
- The unions urged new revenue from taxing the ultra-wealthy and asked state leaders to reject a federal tax-credit scholarship program that they say would act like vouchers, a position backed by national AFT and NEA presidents.
- Governor Pritzker has acknowledged schools are underfunded and noted nearly $3 billion in recent increases but has not committed to calling a special session, while CPS faces a projected $733 million shortfall next school year.
- Coverage cites Illinois Report Card figures showing 38% math proficiency, 52% ELA proficiency and a 25% chronic absenteeism rate as the unions’ rationale for more funding, and opinion pieces highlight partisan disputes over union political spending and accountability.