Gov. J.B. Pritzker celebrated the “best of the best” in Illinois education Tuesday, awarding 24 schools the Governor’s Blue Ribbon award amid a backdrop of widening state funding gaps and lagging math and reading scores.
The state award, now in its second year, replaced the federal Blue Ribbon program discontinued in 2025. It honors schools for performance and academic improvement.
But the state’s funding for public schools hasn’t met its own marks, based on goals set by the General Assembly.
Under the Evidence Based Funding Model, the state aims to fund districts at 90% of adequate operating levels.
State Board of Education data shows only 36.85% of districts met that threshold this year – a percentage that has declined for three consecutive years..
Even with a $350 million increase in spending for the program this year – bringing total program spending to $9.3 billion – the cost of adequate funding continues to outpace state allocations.
Story from Illinois Radio Network
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