Join us NEXT WEEK!
🚨 Illinois may appear strong in overall school funding, but when it comes to distributing dollars equitably, the state still falls short.
🗓️ Join the conversation on March 10 at 1 PM to explore what must change.
Register today: go.uic.edu/MakingTheGrade
Thursday, March 5 - Vote No Federal Vouchers in Illinois / Ban Masked Federal Agents in Illinois / What’s the Plan? with Indivisible’s Co-Founders TODAY
We're urging members to say NO to vouchers because they divert funding AWAY FROM public schools and TOWARD private and religious schools that are not required to follow the same transparency, accountability, or civil rights protections that apply to public schools.
In the upcoming primary election, many Illinois communities will see a ballot question related to the creation of a new statewide voucher program.
We’re 1 week away from our Making the Grade virtual event! Learn more about what it takes to fully fund Illinois public schools! There’s still time to register! Click the link below!
go.uic.edu/MakingTheGrade
Check out our public ed ally, Katie Gruber’s @chicago.suntimes.com commentary, "Public schools lose with federal tax credit scholarship program" which explains that no matter how proponents spin it, tax credit scholarships reduce the funds available for public schools and other public goods.
In 2️⃣ weeks, join us for a data-driven conversation on our state’s Evidence-Based Funding formula and how our inequitable funding distribution impacts Illinois students and families.
Join the conversation on March 10 at 1 PM for the conversation!
go.uic.edu/MakingTheGrade
“The Governor and General Assembly face a clear choice: leave Illinois families exposed to the fallout of Trump’s agenda, or make billionaires & giant corporations finally pay what they owe to fund the investments our families require.
ILRA response: www.illinoisrevenuealliance.org/pritzker2026...
📍 “When school funding is put on the back burner, our children are the ones who go without essential programs and opportunities.” — Gabriela Aguiñaga-Martínez, PEER Illinois partner organizer.
Read our full response to Gov. Pritzker’s budget address: www.peerillinois.org/newsroom/lvb...
🚨Full funding is long overdue in Illinois. The state seems to rank well in overall school funding, but ranks low in equitable distribution.
🗓️Join the conversation March 10 at 1 PM and learn what needs to change.
Register today: go.uic.edu/MakingTheGrade
🚨Recently, alongside 45+ organizations we sent a letter urging Governor Pritzker to keep Illinois out of any federal voucher scheme. Illinois should not go backwards by opting into the federal tax credit voucher.
Now more than ever, it’s time to fully fund our public schools. #novouchers
🚨School vouchers don’t belong in Illinois.
If supporting our students and public schools is truly the goal, voucher programs moves us in the opposite direction.
Read our full Letter to the Editor, published in the Chicago Sun Times, here: chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-t...
From Rockford to East St. Louis, all students deserve a quality education in a well-funded public school. Vouchers threaten our neighborhood schools and have a deep, dark history that only benefits the wealthiest few. #ILPol #FundOurSchools
“History tells us that voucher efforts in our country grew out of resistance to school desegregation, and these programs have often coincided with greater racial and economic inequality in education.” — Beatriz Diaz-Pollack, @clccivilrights.bsky.social
chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-t...
🚨Private school vouchers drain public funds and hurt the students who need them most.
Schools need more resources, not fewer. We’ve submitted a public comment to the IRS opposing the proposed national school voucher program.
🔗 Read here: www.regulations.gov/comment/IRS-...
📣 PEER Illinois seeks a part-time skilled communicator to expand our capacity during the 2026 legislative session. This contractor will support messaging, storytelling, and efforts to shape and shift the public narrative around public education.
🔗 Learn more + apply: www.peerillinois.org/employment
🚨 PEER Illinois Launches New Funding Tool to Highlight Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) Gaps Across IL School Districts
Illinois’ EBF formula remains underfunded by $5.7 billion, leaving thousands of students without the resources they need to thrive.
🔗 Explore the tool: peerillinoisfundingtool.org
How do Illinois schools receive money, and why are we still one of the most unequally funded states in the US? Evidence-Based Funding was meant to remedy chronic underfunding of public education, but we're still almost $5.7 Billion behind.
Have you signed up for our school funding training yet? It's this Thursday! Make sure you're on the list: bit.ly/LearnEBF
It's been a very busy fall for PEER Illinois! We recently traveled to Mississippi for our annual national convening, supported East St Louis parent Alexandra Graham in her speech for progressive revenue to fund public education, and held an EBF training in Rockford. We love connecting with you all!
How does Illinois determine the $ your school district receives? Why are many districts still struggling to make ends meet? PEER Illinois is hosting a virtual EBF training on 11/6 to answer these questions & more. Join us to learn about school funding equity! bit.ly/LearnEBF
Yesterday, PEER Illinois coalition coordinator, Maddy Wheelock, provided testimony at the FY2027 Illinois State Board of Education Budget Hearing to ask for full funding of the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula. Read the full statement here:
Join our partners at IRRPP on 8/26 for the launch of their latest State of Racial Justice in Chicagoland report on education, shifting focus from outcome gaps to inequitable policies & school funding driving disparities. Register: go.uic.edu/IRRPPEduReportLaunch
🚨 Parents across the country overwhelmingly support increased funding for public schools. However, the Federal administration’s policy initiatives and the new “Big Beautiful Bill” are moving us in the wrong direction.
🔗 Read our full blog post here: www.peerillinois.org/newsroom/des...
Our partners in Arizona have drafted an email urging legislators to reject this program. Customize the letter to contact your own legislators here: sosarizona.org/no-fed-vouchers/
🚨 A federal voucher program moving through Congress aims to further privatize education, divesting from public schools that already struggle with budget shortfalls and leaving most low-income students and middle-class families worse off.
Our team of 50+ in front of the Capitol Building in Springfield.
We're so grateful for the 50+ parents, students, and public school advocates that joined us from around the state to advocate in Springfield! We can't wait to host more Advocacy Days with our incredible partners. The time to fully fund EBF is NOW! #AllinforILstudents
📣 This week, 50+ parents from across the state joined us in Springfield to advocate for full funding of our public schools.
Illinois families are urging lawmakers to fully fund EBF and invest in our children's futures.
Hear directly from the folks who joined us! ⬇️
#AllinforILstudents
🚨 The latest executive order to dismantle the DOE threatens the future of public education and marginalized students will suffer most. Stay tuned for more information about an upcoming virtual event and read our full statement here: bit.ly/PEERDOE
