Aug 20, 2008 5:17 pm US/Central
Lawsuit: Ill. School Funding Is Unconstitutional
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
The Chicago Urban League filed a lawsuit Wednesday hoping to change the way money is given to schools in Chicago, and across the state.
It claims funding schools based on property tax revenue is unconstitutional and violates the 2003 Illinois Civil Rights Act.
As CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports, public schools in Illinois get most of their funding from property taxes. So in Winnetka where property taxes are high, the district spends $17,000 on each student.
In Chicago, many of the students live in poor communities where property taxes are low. So the district gets less money, only $10,000 per student.
The Chicago Urban League called that discrimination.
"The state school system flat out violates the civil rights of minority children," said Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson.
The Urban League spells out its reasons in a lawsuit against the State of Illinois and the state Board of Education. Lawyers say the system is unfair because Chicago has a history of housing discrimination that forced minorities in poor communities, so basing the funding on property taxes automatically limits funding.
"Our children lack computers, up-to-date text books and gyms," said the Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
"Education in America cannot be for the wealthy," said Sen. Rev. James Meeks. "Education in America must be for all people.
The lawsuit does not suggest a remedy to the funding issue. It just wants the courts to force lawmakers to address the issue immediately.
"We're not lacking ideas, what we're lacking is political courage," said Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan.
Some lawmakers have suggested funding education through a tax swap, where income taxes rise and property taxes go down. But Governor Rod Blagojevich says he won't support tax increases.
In the past homeowners in New Trier's district have supported changes to school funding funding, as long as it doesn't affect their schools. Cheryle Jackson insists it won't.
In Chicago, Bronzeville residents hope the lawsuit means better schools for their community.
"That's the only way to get the money to get the books, to get the qualified teachers that are needed," said Bronzeville resident Gloria Roberson.
CBS 2 reached out to the governor's office as well as officials from the State Board of Education, but no one wanted to comment on the lawsuit.
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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