Chicago Urban League Files Lawsuit Against State to Address School Funding

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Group says its discriminatory; Meeks says boycott still on as plannedby Lesley R. Chinn

While the 1954 landmark decision Brown vs. the Board of Education struck down separate but equal, the Chicago Urban League and numerous members of the clergy have filed a discrimination lawsuit against the State of Illinois and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to address unequal funding in education. The lawsuit claims the states current system for school funding is unconstitutional and stands in violation of the Illinois Civil Rights Act of 2003.

Represented by the law firm of Jenner & Block, representatives of the Urban League said that the states public school scheme has racial and ethnic disparities; violates the uniformity of taxation provision of the Illinois Constitution; violates individuals rights to attend high quality education institutions and their right to equal protection under the law. The lawsuit, filed in conjunction with the Quad County Urban League, specifically challenges the states method of distributing school funds to local school districts.

We can no longer allow the current flawed system of school funding to continue in Illinois for yet another school year. We cannot allow another minority child to begin a school year knowing they will not be given the same opportunity to learn compared to white students in wealthy school districts, said Urban League President and CEO Cheryle Jackson.

According to the education advocacy group, A+ Illinois, the graduation rate is 81 percent for white students compared to 52 percent for African-American students and 57 percent for Latino students. Those percentages are totally unacceptable Jackson stated.

A+ Illinois statistics also showed that a one-year increase in average education levels reduces the overall arrest rate by 11 percent; lowers murder and assault rates by 30 percent; car thefts by 20 percent; arson by 13 percent and burglary by six percent. The report also showed that adults lacking a high school diploma are more likely to receive public assistance. Nationally, if all high school dropouts on public assistance were able to acquire a diploma, the country would save up to $10.8 billion annually in welfare, food stamps, and public housing costs, the report concluded.

Illinois ranks 49th out of 50 states in school funding. In contrast, the state has the nations fifth largest personal income and currently operates the fifth largest public school system, according to the lawsuit. Our school funding system is broken and its now time to start working on solutions, said Mary Ellen Guest, campaign manager for A+ Illinois.

With these statistics, Jackson said it is nearly impossible to put students on the pathway toward success. When our childrens skills are remedial, they have no future. A childs future should be determined by how big they can dream, not by which school district they live in, she said.

Responding to questions regarding why the suit is being filed now, Jackson said the Urban League had

hoped the state would be an advocate for the people. She said the Urban League has continuously lobbied and testified to address changes in the way education is funded.

If students are expected to succeed, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. said they should be given quality resources to work with. Our children lack computers, textbooks, gyms and the teachers are often teaching outside of their subject areas. Were trying to fight for a leg up so they can compete. Rev. Jackson called on the Governor to include children and schools as a top priority in his $25 billion capital improvement bill now.

Chicago Public Schools chief executive officer Arne Duncan, said that everyone should be on the same side when it comes to properly funding education. For at least 30 years, we have waited expectantly for something to happen, only to be disappointed time and time again.

When questioned about whether the lawsuit will eliminate the September 2nd boycott of the Chicago Public Schools which is also being organized to protest unequal funding in schools, Rev. State Senator James Meeks (D-15) who has been at the forefront of those efforts, said the event will continue as planned. For the past six years, Meeks has pushed education reform legislation in Springfield. So far with Senate Bills 750, 755, and 2288, Meeks education reform legislation measures have not been passed. I cant pass legislation by myself. Our state cannot be what it can be until all our children are afforded a quality education. Education must be for all people.

In 2006, Meeks said Gov. Rod Blagojevich promised to put $2 billion in education. The Governor also discussed leasing the lottery to do that, which would result in raising the level of education spending to an additional $2,000 per student. That $2,000 could do a lot in solving this issue. I would suggests the Governor keep his promise, he said. Jackson added the lawsuit does not include state legislators because the State of Illinois acts as a legal entity. In this lawsuit, it doesnt matter which state agency fixes the problem of school funding as long someone in the state gets it fixed, she said.

Teachers and other clergy leaders said the lawsuit is long overdue and are calling for other solutions to

funding schools equally.

As a fifth grade teacher at Sawyer Elementary School, Maureen Forte said that parents are pressed with rising taxes and were under the impression that the lottery was going to help fund the school system. She also pointed out that about 90 percent of the students at her school come from low-income households and qualify for the free lunch program. Where is the money going to come from? We may have to look at the casino to help offset the cost of education. Kids have to be educated and depend on property taxes to help fund the schools.

Teachers are underpaid and do most of the work. We have aldermen and state legislators that are looking for an increase in their salaries. If we stop paying all of them, maybe we can take it and give it to a poorly run school, she said.

Patricia Boughton, a social studies teacher at Harlan High School, called for an allocation of the income tax and less reliance on the property taxes. That way the wealthy will pay their share. The wealthier school districts tend to be the ones with the big shopping malls and paying millions of dollars to a relatively small school district, she said.

Rev. Steve Jones, president of the Baptist Pastor Conference of Chicago and Vicinity, said this lawsuit should force legislators to reassess how schools are funded. This is the year 2008 and were still stuck behind this elitist system where only the few are getting the benefits and the majority are suffering, he said.

When asked for a response to the lawsuit, Matt Vanover, an ISBE spokesman, said ISBE had not seen the lawsuit and therefore was unable to comment. Calls and e-mails to officials from the Governors office were not returned.

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