Illinois schools may face more cuts

Friday, June 25, 2010

Illinois schools may face another budget blow, as millions of dollars look to be cut next school year.

The state of Illinois is no stranger to budget problems, especially its public school system.

In fact, the Illinois government owes schools state-wide $1.4 billion.

However, that number only looks to get worse as the education board looks to cut $300 million the 2010-2011 school year.

The Illinois State Board of Education met Wednesday discussing plans to cut $300 million.

A final decision has not been made, although a vote was expected to take place Thursday.

If the money is gone, several programs will be too.
Here's a list of just a few things your child could see a change in come August.

Funding could be cut from advanced placement classes for high schoolers to teacher evaluations to even school breakfast incentive programs.

These cuts will also affect funding for arts education, agricultural education, after school programs, and alternative schools.

Not to mention the thousands of dollars the state already owes schools throughout the Illinois.

The school district in Flora, Ill. waits for nearly a million dollars from the state and the school district in Effingham, Ill. is missing $1.6 million from the state.

Teachers have been laid-off and programs have already been cut, so what's left for these schools?

At this point, it's unclear what will happen to the schools, the students, and the jobs across the state.