Following is an excerpt from a Letter to the Editor penned by Rev. James Meeks, Illinois State Board of Education Chairman, and published in the Chicago Sun-Times on May 15, 2016:

When I was Senator Meeks, I worked with other members of the General Assembly to change the way we fund schools. As chair of the Illinois State Board of Education, I remain equally committed; however, given the current political stalemate, I believe that our first responsibility is to make sure that a school budget is passed as soon as possible. The governor has made a commitment to sign an education budget that ends proration. Let’s pass a school budget now that fully funds our schools, as we continue to work for greater adequacy and equity in our funding formula.

By doing both, school boards around the state can begin planning for next year while committing to a future that responsibly ensures that the poorest child in Illinois has a future as bright as the wealthiest.

You can read the entire letter at the Chicago Sun-Times website.