* Background is here if you need it. Chicago Teachers Union press conference announcement for today…
What: Press conference seeking confirmation from Gov. Pritzker that excess revenue will be dedicated to Illinois’ students
When: 9:45am September 10, 2026
Where: 42 W. Madison, Chicago, IL
Who: Chicago Teachers Union […]
Educators mark that this school year can be a turning point in CPS history if the Governor and General Assembly come current with their skipped bills.
They will point to the most recent state budget projections that show a 7% growth year over year compared to last year and an unexpected $500 million dollars from just the first two months of FY2027 that can be directed to school districts across the state. Combined with the META settlement of $760 million and at least $3 billion in revenue proposals left unpassed when the General Assembly adjourned in the Spring, union members point to more than enough available to address the education crisis in the state and be in compliance with the 2027 ten year deadline for the evidence-based formula.
We’re only two full months into the new fiscal year. Raiding any extra funds now and sending all of it to school districts could put the state in a hole down the road.
* From COGFA…
The biggest driver of revenue growth so far this fiscal year is the Sales Tax, which is up an impressive $223 million through the first two months of FY 2027, an increase of 11.0%. On a net basis, the growth is slightly lower at $216 million. While this level of growth is unlikely to continue at such an elevated rate, the stronger than expected totals to start the year will provide additional financial cushion if revenues were to weaken later in the fiscal year.
Federal Sources have also gotten the fiscal year off to a strong start. The $115 million increase in August, when combined with July’s growth, results in an increase of approximately $172 million, or 25.4%, through August. However, the historical volatility of this revenue category suggests that a slowdown in these receipts should be expected in the months ahead.
Also, I’m unaware of serious, sustained negotiations and planning about progressive revenue proposals, and the META settlement money is supposed to be used for other purposes.
…Adding… From the press conference…
Sen. Graciela Guzmán (D-Chicago): Before I came to the Senate, I was a CTU organizer, so when I look at this budget, I don’t just see numbers. I see our students, our educators, and countless families that I know. And I want to be clear as a legislator: a budget that is balanced on cuts isn’t balanced, it’s austerity. And this is not just a CPS problem; Springfield has a responsibility as well. Illinois created the Evidence-Based Funding because we recognized that our school funding system was deeply inequitable. We made a promise to move towards adequacy, and we’re just not moving fast enough. So the question is not whether our children deserve fully funded schools, they do. The question is whether we’re willing to raise the revenue to make that promise real. That means closing corporate loopholes, protecting Illinois from federal tax giveaways for the wealthy, and asking millionaires and billionaires to pay more. There’s no single legislative moment that fixes this. We need veto session, lame duck, and spring session, and the next budget, and take all as opportunities to build the votes and move this work forward, because our children cannot afford to wait for us to figure it out eventually. They only get one childhood, and we’re going to keep fighting until Illinois funds the schools that they deserve.
…Adding… Gov. Pritzker spokesperson…
“Governor Pritzker has increased Evidence-Based Funding by more than $2.5 billion since 2019 while investing hundreds of millions more in teachers and student supports. Responsible budgeting has made those sustained investments possible—and it means looking at the state’s full fiscal picture, not treating two months of collections as a year-end surplus or using one-time resources to fund ongoing expenses. The Governor remains committed to fully funding public education across the state, but he has made clear that it must be done responsibly and sustainably.”
- JS Mill - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 8:51 am:
=Also, I’m unaware of serious, sustained negotiations and planning about progressive revenue proposals, and the META settlement money is supposed to be used for other purposes.=
CTU does not care. Their tuba can only play one song “More, More,More”. I don’t see them saying “let’s get to work and pass an Ed Fund referendum so Chicago can fund more of their responsibilities”, nope. They want everyone else to pay the bill.
- SWSider - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 9:08 am:
Rich, thanks for clarifying, again, that the money needs to be used to help children. I think it’s really clear that schools have nothing to do with children.
- Steve - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 9:09 am:
CTU is very good at what they do. Economists James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock described the motivation years ago:
” No one seems to have explored carefully the implicit assumption that the individual must somehow shift his psychological and moral gears when he moves between the private and the social aspects of life. We are, therefore, placed in the somewhat singular position of having to defend the simple assumption that the same individual participates in both processes against the almost certain onslaught of the moralists. “
- low level - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 9:11 am:
At this point, I just roll my eyes and say “whatever”. Mind you Im a lifelong Chicago resident. These people cant be taken seriously anymore.
So glad I dont have to attend the press conference…
- NorthSideNoMore - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 9:24 am:
When did CPS do anything meaningful to reduce spending? Like closing low enrollment schools. Throwing in more $$$ is not always going to be the answer.
- Center Drift - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 10:31 am:
Sorry CTU but adults with disabilities waiting for post high school services need the money more. No student is on a waiting list for school thousands of adults with disabilities are on waiting lists.
- Amalia - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 10:33 am:
CTU Chutzpah Teachers Union though that’s an insult to the word chutzpah
- SWSider - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 10:51 am:
–No student is on a waiting list for school thousands of adults with disabilities are on waiting lists.–
Tell me you’re not in urban ed without telling me you’re not in urban ed.
- Hmmmm - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 10:55 am:
Note that CTU is advocating for funding for *ALL* Illinois students, not just Chicago. They are the only fighting union in the state using their platform for this push. And a reminder that this funding is already established in the legislature-passed EBF funding bill, and 63% of districts in the state are still not funded to adequacy. We can either invest in our next generation or not. This shouldn’t be rocket science.
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 10:57 am:
I think all this extra income should be split evenly between C P S and the Bears. /S
- JS Mill - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 11:14 am:
=Note that CTU is advocating for funding for *ALL* Illinois students, not just Chicago.=
LOL, you had me there for a minute. In the future please add /S to indicate snark because you have to be kidding.
CTU is not fighting, they are whining. They ONLY know how to demand more money but never promise better results or more work. CTU does nothing for suburban or rural teachers ever.
- SpiDem - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 11:22 am:
I don’t think you all re listening. That is Stacey Davis Gates’ money and everyone else should be on notice to keep their hands off. /s
- here we go again - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 11:48 am:
The Gordon Gekkos of Illinois: “Greed is good.”
- Steve - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 11:59 am:
For all the criticism of CTU, they do understand your tax increase is their pay raise. Their salaries come from taxpayers.
- Langhorne - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 12:06 pm:
The first line refers to “excess revenue “.
For education.
Made me spit my coffee all over the table.
- Leslie K - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 12:18 pm:
==Note that CTU is advocating for funding for *ALL* Illinois students, not just Chicago.==
And if I’m not mistaken, they’ve only recently added “all” to their talking points. My guess is because they finally realized they were losing people. And given CTU’s track record, I have no doubt they mean “after we get all the money we want, the rest of the state can have what’s left.”
- JS Mill - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 12:35 pm:
=Note that CTU is advocating for funding for *ALL* Illinois students, not just Chicago.=
No. They are not.
- City Zen - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 1:22 pm:
==a budget that is balanced on cuts isn’t balanced, it’s austerity==
You can’t have austerity without gluttony. CPS ate too much and isn’t able to portion their meals properly (Douglass HS). Now the’re being put on a healthy diet.
- Oversight - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 1:34 pm:
Seems to me that before giving any more funds to CPS there should be some type of audit to see what they have e been spending their monies on. Doesn’t appear that it is stuff that increase test scores.
- low level - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 1:37 pm:
When a school has lost a quarter of its students, it should be closed and the students reassigned so the resources can be allocated more efficiently.
We can either spend money wisely or continue to throw it into a black hole. This isn’t rocket science.
- Lurker - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 1:49 pm:
I’ve been in charge of Budgets for over 30 years. I could not disagree more with the statement “a budget that is balanced on cuts isn’t balanced, it’s austerity.” Each and every year I started the Budget process with one question, is there anything no longer needed or can be reduced? Trimming the fat helps everyone. Fat gets in the way of producing good results.
Always, always, always start with what can be cut. I’d say dear senator, you saying that’s not valid to the Union, makes all their arguments invalid.
- low level - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 1:50 pm:
==there should be some type of audit to see what they have e been spending their monies on.==
Here are the audits. You obviously are one of those people who think neither the city nor any of its sister agencies are ever audited. That is incorrect.
https://www.cps.edu/about/finance/annual-financial-report/
You’re welcome.
- Which one’s Pink - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 2:06 pm:
I wish the state would find some “excess revenue” to upgrade the campgrounds at its state parks. Missouri is in the process of improving campgrounds at numerous state parks by adding over 400 full hookup campsites with full concrete pads. Meanwhile Illinois recently upgraded 7 such sites but only because the sewer system for the campground shower house had collapsed. Seems like Illinois is telling the RV community we don’t need your business.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 2:24 pm:
=a budget that is balanced on cuts isn’t balanced, it’s austerity.=
No, it is not. Guzman needs to get a better dictionary if that is what she thinks. But she sounds exactly like a CTU person.
=Illinois created the Evidence-Based Funding because we recognized that our school funding system was deeply inequitable.=
That is also incorrect. It was absolutely not about equity.
- City Zen - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 3:21 pm:
Education, both lower and higher, consumes 35% of its operating budget. That’s not including pension costs related to education.
If there is extra money, why does CTU always assume K-12 should consume every last bit of it? What about healthcare, senior services, parks, universities, environment, etc?
- Hmmmm - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 3:29 pm:
“CTU does nothing for suburban or rural teachers ever.” Those teachers are certainly welcome to form a fighting union. I fail to see how that is CTU’s responsibility. CTU certainly has its work cut out with 24,000+ teachers to represent in a 400,000+ student district.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 3:53 pm:
=Those teachers are certainly welcome to form a fighting union. I fail to see how that is CTU’s responsibility. CTU certainly has its work cut out with 24,000+ teachers to represent in a 400,000+ student district.=
You were the one that posted about how CTU was fighting for the whole state. They are not. They are not a “fighting union” and they are not representing students. Thhey do use that as a cudgel but the union represents the teachers only. They were not formed or elected to represent students. CTU only knows how to attack and accuse and demand more money.
Looking back to COVID, CTU was one of the last national holdouts and prevented students from getting back into schools for more than a year longer than they should have. That was to the absolute detriment of students. So they are standing for students. Teachers do, but this union does not.
- m Stephens - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 5:07 pm:
“Those teachers are certainly welcome to form a fighting union. I fail to see how that is CTU’s responsibility. CTU certainly has its work cut out with 24,000+ teachers to represent in a 400,000+ student district.”
According to the official Chicago Public Schools (CPS) statistics for the 2025-2026 school year, CPS reported 316,224 students enrolled at the start of the school year. Why begin to overstate the student population by almost 100,000 students?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 10, 26 @ 5:20 pm:
===Those teachers are certainly welcome to form a fighting union===
lol
Most are already members of the IFT or IEA.