Teachers unions call for special session, more money

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The Chicago Teachers Union and the Illinois Federation of Teachers are calling for a special session of the General Assembly to fund public education.

Chicago Board of Education member Jitu Brown joined CTU members at a press conference on Tuesday.

Brown said Illinois owes children more than evidence-based funding.

“The $2 billion that we are owed just adequately funds, but when you are repairing harm you have to fund above and beyond,” Brown said.

Brown also asked that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson duplicate his December 2025 $1 billion tax-increment-financing sweep to Chicago Public Schools.

CTU and IFT President Stacy Davis Gates has called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to convene a special legislative session and to raise revenue from the “ultra-wealthy.”

During a media availability in Chicago on Tuesday, Pritzker said he agrees with everyone who says schools are not as well funded as they should be.

“Indeed, every year I have increased funding for our K-12 education. It’s almost $3 billion in total,” the governor said.

The Center Square asked Latasha Fields, a Chicago homeschool and parental rights advocate, about the unions’ call for taxing the ultra-rich to raise revenue for public schools.

“Raise it for what? We have no return on investment here in Illinois, so we’re gonna continue raising the cost to fund what?” Fields said.

Fields said Illinois public schools are an abject failure and children are suffering from poor academics.

According to the latest Illinois Report Card, 38% of the state’s public school students demonstrated proficiency in math last year. 52% showed ELA proficiency. The state’s chronic absenteeism rate is 25%.

The IFT and CTU are also calling on Pritzker to reject a federal tax credit scholarship program.

The initiative set to take effect Jan. 1 allows tax credits for donations to scholarship organizations that fund education-related expenses for students in public, private and homeschool settings.

The presidents of the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association joined the IFT’s call for rejection in an open letter sent to Democratic governors across the country.

“Vouchers betray the promise that, no matter their place, race, or ability, a local public school ought to help every student reach their full potential,” AFT president Randi Weingarten and NEA president Rebecca S. Pringle said.

Fields said Pritzker and the Illinois legislature should opt in.

“Illinois should not leave money on the table that can help children, especially families that are already carrying the weight of this educational failure and rising costs that we have in Illinois,” Fields said.

Fields said she supports fully funding public education for parents who send their children to public schools but said the tax credit program would not hurt public school funding.

Fields said the federal initiative is donor-based and distinctly different than voucher programs.