By Jennifer Keiper, WLS-AM 890 News
(CHICAGO) The Chicago School board is suing Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and other state officials over how the state funds public schools.
The lawsuit filed in Cook County claims the state violates the civil rights of the predominantly-minority student population in the nation’s third-largest school district. Chicago Public Schools officials say Illinois has separate and unequal funding systems leaving Chicago schools with less money per student when compared with districts statewide, which are majority white.
“It is unlawful to fund the educations of poor African-American and Latinos at levels significantly below those of the predominantly white children in the rest of the state of Illinois,” said CPS CEO Forrest Claypool.
The lawsuit cites the Brown v. Board of Education civil rights case. It seeks to have a judge declare the formula unlawful.
Governor Bruce Rauner’s office says it is reviewing the lawsuit.
