Governor Rod Blagojevich's education reform plan aims to improve Illinois schools through increased funding, stronger standards, and accountability measures. Over four years, the plan invests $6 billion in initiatives like expanding preschool and after-school programs, upgrading technology and textbooks, improving teacher training, and taking over persistently failing school districts. The governor argues that past underfunding neglected schools, but his administration has increased education funding by record levels through measures like reducing administrative costs and closing corporate tax loopholes.

1. Helping Kids Learn Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Helping Kids Learn

2. Introduction For more than 25 years, Illinois schools were chronically neglected and consistently underfunded. But in the last four budgets, we’ve increased education funding by record levels, raised standards, expanded preschool and cut red tape. Our reform plan will build on our successes from the last four years and boldly move forward.

3. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Improving Education 1976-2002: Neglected and Underfunded Schools

4. Education Funding: 1976-2002 After accounting for inflation, state funding only increased by an average of 0.5% each year between FY76 and FY03. ISBE Funding, in millions

5. Years of Declining Funding In fact, in four different years under all three previous governors, funding actually went down. Thompson Thompson Edgar Ryan FY83 -$148 mil FY88 -$75 mil FY92 -$28 mil FY03 -$165 mil

6. Where the Money Went Instead of dedicating money to Illinois schools, previous governors wasted state taxpayer dollars on: A bloated payroll of up to 70,000 employees. Corporate Loopholes costing our schools over $500 million a year. Special Purpose Funds that put funds special interests ahead of funds for schools.

7. 2003-2006 Helping Kids Learn

8. Helping Kids Learn By working together, Governor Blagojevich and the General Assembly have taken major steps to help our schools, including: $3.8 billion in new funding for schools. Higher graduation requirements for the first time in 21 years. Launching “Preschool for All” so that every 3 and 4 year old will be able to attend preschool.

9. More Money for Schools 4 Years: $3.8 billion in new funding New Education Funding, in billions $400 $789 $1,119 $1,534 + + + = $3.8 Billion

10. Education Funding After 2002 After adjusting for inflation, we’ve increased spending six times faster than the previous administrations. ISBE Funding, in millions

11. How Do We Compare After four years, Governor Edgar had only increased education funding by 10% . After four years, Governor Ryan had only increased education funding by 12% . After four years, we have increased state education funding by 27% , dedicating more new money than any administration in Illinois history.

12. Changing Priorities We changed state priorities so the budget worked for our schools and our students. The state payroll is 13,000 employees smaller, saving over $800 million a year. We transferred more than $1 billion from Special Purpose Funds for schools without reducing their balance. We closed corporate loopholes, generating hundred of millions of dollars.

13. Preschool for All We launched Preschool for All, increasing funding by $135 million since 2002 – a 75% increase in funding. The program ultimately expands preschool to every 3 and 4-year-old in Illinois.

14. Other Accomplishments We raised high school graduation requirements for the first time in over two decades, requiring students to take more math, science, reading and writing intensive courses. We raised the dropout age to 17 and reduced the dropout rate to its lowest level ever -- 4%. We eliminated the teacher certification backlog and cut more than 500 pages of unneeded rules and red tape. We expanded meal subsidies to 40,000 more children.

15. The Next Steps

16. The Next Steps To continue to improve our schools, we have to ask ourselves, “What does a child need to learn?” They need: A Good Place to Learn Strong Teachers and Administrators Quality Materials Enough Time to Learn The Financial Resources to Get It Done

17. Performance Accountability We're going to use some of the increase in state resources to target specific areas in our school system that have historically underperformed. But these resources will not just be given away. We’re going to target this funding towards services we know will make a difference for struggling kids. And we're going to take over failing school districts that refuse to embrace reforms and make changes.

18. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich A Good Place to Learn Fund School Construction Create Small Schools and Identity Schools Encourage District Consolidation Improving Education

19. Fund School Construction Our school construction program has a five-year waiting list of schools that need significant renovations or even full replacement. We need to fund school construction to build new schools and repair those existing schools that can be repaired. PROBLEM: Too many of our students are learning in old school buildings with overcrowded classrooms.

20. Fund School Construction Our plan proposes $1.5 billion in new school construction funding for schools across Illinois. This money will help growing schools expand and help schools with outdated facilities upgrade.

21. Small Schools One emerging reform is “Small Schools,” where a larger school building is broken up into several independent schools operating within the larger building. These small schools are designed to be more specialized and devote more personal attention to individual students. We would help school districts create “Small Schools” both financially and logistically. PROBLEM: Different schools have different needs. Our schools need to be designed individually to help their students learn and perform better.

22. We should also create “Identity Schools.” “Identity Schools” are focused around a theme chosen by the school like arts, technology, language or agriculture. This gives students training and focus in specific areas. The State would be there to provide the resources and funding that a school would need to successfully undergo this major transformation. Identity Schools

23. District Consolidation In some areas with multiple elementary districts, ninth grade teachers have to spend months just trying to figure out what preparation students had in their elementary schools. Forming unit districts with one curriculum can help lead to more aligned learning. PROBLEM: There are 875 districts around the state, each with its own curriculum. By the time many of those students come together for high school, teachers have a tough time getting them on the same page.

24. District Consolidation Some districts can’t form unit districts under the new law because their property taxes are too high. New funding incentives would be set up to help those school districts lower their property tax rates, and form unit districts.

25. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Strong Teachers and Administrators Affording Special Ed Teachers Educator Mentoring Programs Improve Education Colleges Performance Pay for Teachers Improving Education

26. Strong Teachers Studies have consistently shown that, controlling for demographics, students with access to good, well-equipped teachers do better than students without. Teacher quality is critical, and so is the quality of the principals providing leadership in the schools.

27. Affording Special Ed Teachers In the long term, our investment in preschool will help reduce special education costs (preschool reduces the need for special education by 41%). PROBLEM: Schools are required by law to provide special education teachers, but they often don’t have enough funding to cover the cost.

28. Affording Special Ed Teachers But in the short term, we need to keep increasing funding for the children who need it most. Increasing state funding for mandated categoricals from 97% to 100%, and increasing the state's rate for personnel reimbursement by several thousand dollars, will help school districts across the state, including many suburban districts. Schools are already required by federal law to provide these services. We need to give them the resources to help them afford it.

29. Educator Mentoring Programs This year, Illinois started funding teacher and principal mentoring programs, and continued to fund the Grow Your Own teacher program. More funding for those programs means better teachers and better student performance. This plan requires better and stricter mentoring for school district superintendents, aligning them with requirements for teachers and principals. PROBLEM: Teachers and administrators need to stay up to speed on the best teaching techniques.

30. Improve Education Colleges Right now there are teacher shortages in some areas and surpluses in others. This plan provides incentives for colleges of education that produce graduates trained to teach in the areas our schools need. PROBLEM: The colleges that teach our teachers are not training new teachers in the subjects our schools and our students need the most.

31. Performance Pay for Teachers We should be a national leader in offering performance pay for teachers. We must work with teacher unions and management to reward teachers and schools whose students show academic improvement. PROBLEM: Teachers and schools are not rewarded for positive performance, so good teachers and bad teachers are compensated similarly.

32. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Quality Materials Improve Textbook Quality Improve Technology Improve School Libraries Improve CTE Curriculum Improving Education

33. Improve Textbook Quality We will require districts to replace their textbooks on a six-year cycle. We would provide an additional $40 million to replace old textbooks on a shorter cycle. We will distribute funds first to the districts that need new books the most. PROBLEM: 80% of school districts currently use books that are over 8 years old.

34. Improve Technology By making a real commitment to providing cutting edge technology in classrooms serving low-performing students, we can help to reach kids in a whole new way. We also need teachers trained to use the new equipment and technology. PROBLEM: Right now, many of our classrooms are out-of-date because many districts don’t have the resources to buy new technology that’s available.

35. Improve Technology For example, some internet services provide video on demand for a wide range of academic subject areas. Others provide practice in reading and mathematics on a computerized program that provides continual feedback and progress reports. Other programs allow parents to track assignments and news about the school.

36. Improve School Libraries Students and teachers need school libraries with better materials and resources. Funding can also be used to provide materials for programs like arts and education, band instruments, and other activities. PROBLEM: Teachers need libraries with better materials and resources to help teach their students. This plan provides resources for schools to upgrade their libraries and hire new librarians.

37. Improve CTE Curriculum Successful CTE programs help students learn job skills so they can go on to higher education and get jobs that pay well. We’ve committed funding to update the curriculum, but we need to make sure schools have the resources to actually teach the new curriculum. PROBLEM: Our state curriculum for most Career and Technical Education (CTE) is outdated.

38. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Enough Time to Learn Continue Preschool Funding Offer Full-Day Kindergarten Expand After-School Tutoring Extend the School Year Improve Parental Involvement Improving Education

39. Continue Preschool Funding We have increased pre-K funding by almost 75% over the last four years. State Early Childhood Spending, in millions

40. Continue Preschool Funding Illinois is already a national model for preschool, and one of the top states for providing preschool to at-risk kids. We know that kids who attend preschool are better at reading and writing, less likely to be in special ed, more likely to graduate high school, and less likely to get in trouble.

41. Continue Preschool Funding That’s why we need to continue funding Preschool for All until all 3- and 4-year-old children have the opportunity to enroll in a high-quality preschool program. PROBLEM: There are still thousands of at-risk and middle class kids who don’t have preschool yet, especially three year olds who need a head start.

42. Offer Full-Day Kindergarten Illinois already funds full-day kindergarten better than most states in the country. Full-day kindergarten students here are treated like any other full-time student in the K-12 system. PROBLEM: Even though some kids need more time to learn and develop, there are still schools that don’t offer full day kindergarten.

43. Offer Full-Day Kindergarten Some districts – particularly in Chicago and the collar counties – have a hard time making the transition to full-day kindergarten where they don’t have it. The way the formula currently works, the district’s expenses increase two years before it gets the additional money from the state. Transitional funding would help districts that don’t have full-day kindergarten begin providing it.

44. Mandatory After School Tutoring After school tutoring has been proven to be effective, and helps students keep up through the school year. No Child Left Behind requires tutoring, but doesn’t fund it. We have to provide the funding and resources to offer more tutoring programs, and we have to ensure that students who need after school tutoring take advantage of it. PROBLEM: For some kids, the regular school day is not enough time to learn what they need to know.

45. Extend the School Year By extending the school year and upgrading summer school programs, the state can make sure that kids don’t fall behind over the summer. Summer school gives students a chance to learn subjects they’ve had problems with in smaller groups. We will help underperforming districts extend their teacher contracts by at least a month, so that schools can plan for and implement a 10+ month school year. PROBLEM: Kids at risk of academic failure lose significant ground over the summer break.

46. Improve Parental Involvement Programs that train parents to advocate for their children, help create websites that assist parents in steering their kids through school, and help parents keep track of their kids’ assignments and progress all help parents get involved. PROBLEM: If parents aren’t involved in their kids’ education, it’s tougher for a child to do well in school.

47. Improve Parental Involvement By funding classes and programs at the school for parents to attend, the state can help schools get parents more involved in their kids’ education. In addition, a statewide council on parent leadership could help parents share ideas and communicate with state and local education officials.

48. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich The Financial Resources to Get the Job Done Improving Education Increase the Foundation Level Reduce Administrative Costs Funding Our Plan in Year One Funding Our Plan Over Four Years

49. Increase the Foundation Level Over the last four budgets, we’ve increased the foundation level by $774. Foundation Level

50. Increase the Foundation Level Increasing the foundation level is a necessity in any education reform plan to make sure that schools with the greatest needs receive the funding they require to operate. Many schools have shown they can help their students succeed, and we need to help them cover rising costs with increased support. But when students aren’t succeeding, we’re not just going to just give schools more money -- we’re going to target the money to programs that will make a difference.

51. Reduce Administrative Costs If a district cuts administrative costs, they can pass those savings on to taxpayers. By consolidating procurement, health insurance, and construction, we can lower costs and put more money in the classroom. We would also require districts to publish their spending on administrative costs directly onto property tax bills. PROBLEM: Districts need to cut their administrative costs to put more money into the classroom.

52. Funding Our Plan in Year One In year one, we will invest $1 billion : Increase the Foundation Level: $250 million Increase Special Education Funding: $200 million School Construction Debt Service: $50 million Preschool Expansion: $60 million Programs for Underperforming Students: $200 million Textbook replacement: $40 million Other reforms: $200 million

53. Funding Our Plan Over Four Years Over four years, we will provide $6 billion to fulfill this education reform plan (not counting total capital for school construction.) Total Funding, in billions

54. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Moving Forward Improving Education

55. Take Over Failing Districts We will give the districts every resource and every opportunity to take advantage of these new programs and turn themselves around. But we will not stand by if schools don’t use these resources and still don’t succeed. We will get tough on failure. If that means aggressively taking over failing school districts, then that’s what the state must do.

56. Take Over Failing Districts Every district should know that the first time it hears from the state, the state will be offering help and advice. We will bring in management teams to provide training and guidance to administrators in failing schools, and stay there until it’s done right. But if the district turns down the help, and student performance still doesn’t improve, then the state will take over the district. For example, in Calumet Park, the state is already stepping in to make sure special ed students get the teaching they need.

57. Long-Term Planning The state should create a truly meaningful council of elected officials, education, business, and community leaders to help shape long-term education policy. The intent of the council is to develop a long term, comprehensive plan for education at every level in Illinois, p-16, for decades to come. The council would build on the accomplishments and progress of the past four years and continue the process of ensuring that Illinois will lead the nation in the quality of education it offers its children.

58. Moving Forward There's no magic formula that fixes our schools and helps our kids learn. But if we give our kids better places to learn, good teachers, better materials, and enough time and attention, odds are they'll improve. That's what this plan attempts to do, through a combination of new ideas and doing a better job with the things we already know. It will take hard work, cooperation, a tolerance for change, and time. But with enough of each, we can do it.