Students to suffer from school cuts
Updated: January 28, 2013
SPRINGFIELD -- Nearly half of all students in Illinois come from low-income families. While the number isn't exactly new, the concern about what will happen to them if schools continue to lose funding is. WCIA-3's Brittany Harris examines the problem.
Education funding stands to lose about $400 million next year. Those cuts will be felt big time for intervention services. They are the same programs many low-income students depend on for support.
"I just think of how it's going to impact the students. I mean, you can't work in education and not care about kids."
Tamara Sturdy is a guidance counselor at Riverton High Schools. It's her job to make sure low-income students get the help they need. It's something that might get much harder to do because of possible cuts.
"I keep thinking about how can we still give them what they need with fewer people and fewer resources. We're all just going to have to work a lot harder with a lot less."
The high school offers all kinds of programs for those students, like giving them free breakfast and lunch, waivers for textbooks and fees and extra tutoring if students fall behind in class.
"These services are valuable to these kids."
But, now some of those services are in jeopardy. Governor Quinn laid out his budget projections for next year. It's not looking too good for failed reform.
"Schools have had a $900 million dollar cut over the past three years."
Matt Vanover works for the State Board of Education. He says districts can't afford to deal with more cuts.
And, if they have to..."You'll probably see more teachers laid off, bigger class sizes, shorter school years and shorter school days, as well as less extra-curricular activities. It will be difficult for a school to even function."
"They're not going to have the opportunity to continue to improve their skills in reading and in math or have the additional support they need to be successful in the classroom."
The $400 million cut is just a projection right now. Governor Quinn and the General Assembly will have the final say.
The State Board of Education is fighting to get more money for schools, but whether that will happen remains to be seen. No word if the programs will get cut. It all depends on each school's budget, plus what they can afford if the cuts go through.
Education funding stands to lose about $400 million next year. Those cuts will be felt big time for intervention services. They are the same programs many low-income students depend on for support.
"I just think of how it's going to impact the students. I mean, you can't work in education and not care about kids."
Tamara Sturdy is a guidance counselor at Riverton High Schools. It's her job to make sure low-income students get the help they need. It's something that might get much harder to do because of possible cuts.
"I keep thinking about how can we still give them what they need with fewer people and fewer resources. We're all just going to have to work a lot harder with a lot less."
The high school offers all kinds of programs for those students, like giving them free breakfast and lunch, waivers for textbooks and fees and extra tutoring if students fall behind in class.
"These services are valuable to these kids."
But, now some of those services are in jeopardy. Governor Quinn laid out his budget projections for next year. It's not looking too good for failed reform.
"Schools have had a $900 million dollar cut over the past three years."
Matt Vanover works for the State Board of Education. He says districts can't afford to deal with more cuts.
And, if they have to..."You'll probably see more teachers laid off, bigger class sizes, shorter school years and shorter school days, as well as less extra-curricular activities. It will be difficult for a school to even function."
"They're not going to have the opportunity to continue to improve their skills in reading and in math or have the additional support they need to be successful in the classroom."
The $400 million cut is just a projection right now. Governor Quinn and the General Assembly will have the final say.
The State Board of Education is fighting to get more money for schools, but whether that will happen remains to be seen. No word if the programs will get cut. It all depends on each school's budget, plus what they can afford if the cuts go through.
