With this petition we implore the CPS Board of Education to increase per pupil funding for 2014-2015. Current per pupil funding levels are severely inadequate to provide a high-quality, well-rounded school day in an equitable manner across CPS. 

Over the past several years, many CPS schools have been forced to cut reading specialists, arts teachers, librarians, counselors and other essentials. 

• New mandates for PE and arts instruction can only be increased at the expense of other essential positions and programs.
• Only 35% of schools currently have two hours of arts per week, but CPS claims that the full program will roll out over three years (RYH survey). 

PE and art mandates and other essentials CAN’T HAPPEN without a sustained increase in per pupil funding.

Virtually every area in the central office that is not considered a direct school expense posted an increase in spending last year (Catalyst Chicago): 

• Strategic Supports (OS4) - Increase of $14 million last year to $19.1 million  
• SUPES - $20 million contract over three years  
• Strategy Management - Increase of $13 million last year to $19.3 million
• FACE - Increase of $3 million to $8.8 million
• Innovation and Incubation - $50.4 million in this department
• $5 million to spend on new office furniture.

 REDIRECTING BUDGETARY INCREASES from central/citywide offices to the classroom could have a significant impact:

• Redirect $178 million = $508 more per pupil = $309,000 in a school with 600 students
• Redirect $89 million = $242 more per pupil = $152,400 in a school with 600
• students 

For more details, see our “Solutions for Increasing Per Pupil Funding” document at www.ilraiseyourhand.org.

With this petition we implore the Board of Education to increase per pupil funding for 2014-15. 

The future of our children and the future of the city of Chicago depend on it.