Contact:
Advance Illinois Communications
communications@advanceillinois.org

CHICAGO, IL (February 2, 2022) - We are delighted to see a proposed budget that is fiscally responsible, plays no games with federal funds, and includes powerful and needed investments across the entire birth through postsecondary (B-20) continuum. Students across the state, from early learners to college students, will find things to cheer in the governor’s proposed budget, and we appreciate his efforts to support students across the system.

While there is much to commend in the governor’s proposed education budget, we are especially pleased with the proposed 5 percent increase for our state’s public institutions of higher education and community colleges in FY22, and the whopping $122 million proposed increase to the state’s flagship scholarship program – its MAP grants. An increase of this magnitude will allow the state to help nearly every eligible student who applies, even as it allows the state to increase average individual awards. This change is good for the future of the state and extends serious support to students from low-income households and students of color at a time when COVID-19 has put postsecondary affordability and success in real peril.  

In addition, we applaud the governor’s proposal to increase support for the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship to $4.2 million, an investment which will help address the teacher shortage in our state while supporting more teaching candidates of color, including Black male and bilingual candidates. 

It is also terrific and important to see the governor propose an additional $350 million for Evidence-Based Funding, an investment that makes good on the state’s commitment to closing deep funding inequities at a time when student need has never been greater.  

Finally, we applaud the recommended 10 percent (or $54 million) increase in the Early Childhood Block Grant. That said, we hope the General Assembly will find ways to make additional (and complementary) investments in Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), Home Visiting (HV) and Early Intervention (EI) programs. We know there is much work to be done to close the resource gap in the ECEC system and individual early childhood programs and look forward to seeing what more can be done to address this issue. 

Overall, this budget demonstrates Governor Pritzker’s commitment to ensuring that all Illinois students, from birth through career, receive the quality education they so richly deserve. We now look to the General Assembly to do its part to invest in a flourishing public education system in Illinois.  

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About Advance Illinois
Advance Illinois is an independent policy and advocacy organization working toward a healthy public education system that enables all students to achieve success in college, career and civic life. Since its founding in 2008, Advance Illinois has become a nationally recognized thought leader in education policy advocacy. To learn more, visit advanceillinois.org.