Charter schools give parents more options to ensure success
Gov. Quinn opened the United Neighborhood Organization's charter school on Chicago's West Side. The state provided a $27 million "Illinois Jobs Now!" investment to build UNO's Soccer Academy Elementary School. "Making sure that every child in
Illinois has access to a quality education is a top priority of my administration and parents throughout Illinois. This project is the next step of many we are taking to give parents more options to ensure their children have opportunities to succeed."
Consolidate from 868 school districts to save $100M
Illinois currently has 868 school districts, and our fiscal reality demands consolidation. I am proposing the formation of a commission that will review the number of school districts in our state.
Consolidation lowers administrative overhead, improves
efficiency and will save taxpayers $100 million. I am also proposing eliminating state funding for the salaries & offices for regional school superintendents. The $13 million annual savings will be spent in the classroom, rather than on administration.
Source: Illinois 2011 State of the State Budget Address
, Feb 16, 2011
Race to the Top: Invest in elementary & secondary education
We worked hard on getting a law passed that can make a difference for years to come, called "Race to the Top," accountable education, with up to half a billion dollars in federal money, to make sure our education in our state at the elementary and
secondary level is second to none.
I think it's up to 340 schools districts, have already signed on to participate in this program. Education is the key to economic empowerment. It's the best way for equal opportunity for the most people in a democracy
Source: Illinois 2010 State of the State Address
, Jan 13, 2010
