Advance Illinois study shows low income students behind wealthier peers

Posted on December 14, 2016

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Advance Illinois’ latest The State We’re In report shows Illinois students are lagging behind a 2025 goal of having 60 percent of adults holding a post-secondary degree.

The biannual report was presented to a group of local leaders Wednesday at State Farm’s headquarters in Bloomington. Advance Illinois Communications Director Bob Dolgan said low income students are of particular concern as they are behind their wealthier peers in K-12 schooling.

Dolgan added there are ways to fix the problem.

“Provide enough resources to low income schools districts so that they can have the resources needed to educate their students,” he said.

Dolgan explained the current school system in Illinois is upside down; wealthier schools receive more resources from the state than lower income districts.

“When we have enough resources it means that districts have a shot at hiring better teachers, they have a shot at the textbooks and the special classes available that we all remember when we were growing up,” Dolgan said.

Dolgan said the state is last in the nation for funding equity among schools.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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