>> Chicago public school students and teachers are preparing to return to the classrooms with the first day of school just a week away.

But the district already has some important homework to complete as it faces an eye-popping 734 million dollar deficit.

The district has until the end of the month to pass a budget.

But it's CPS.

Officials are calling on leaders in Springfield for more funding.

Some lawmakers are questioning the state's responsibility in paying up.

Joining us now, our state representative and Williams, a Democrat representing parts of Chicago's North side and state representative Curtis Tarver, Democrat representing parts of Chicago's South Side.

Thanks to you both for joining us.

Thank So Representative Williams, let's start with you.

Cps CEO Macklin King and members of the school board have said have said that the district is out of options with regards to raising revenue.

We're cutting costs.

Does the state have any responsibility to intervene and provide more funding brandis?

Of course, the state will have a very critical role in providing funding not just for Chicago public schools.

>> But for districts throughout the state.

And Doctor King is right when she says we need to put more money toward schools, but exactly how that happens.

Really depends on what we see on Wednesday.

When CPS does release its budget.

>> Representative Tarver, you introduced a bill back in the spring legislative session to bring back state control of CPS, the school Finance Authority that expired back in 2010.

But now you said full takeover is not necessarily a feasible option.

What changed for you?

>> Well, actually had a chance to talk to the former comptroller who was around at that time yesterday.

Any Tillman, based at the little we fly checks CPS million dollar millions of dollars.

And so they had no ability to bond.

They really have any access to markets.

I think we're in a slightly better position in regard.

But I do think this needs to be a role for the state to implement some reforms.

we're going send that those funds to CPS.

>> Representative Williams, you said, you know, it'll kind of depends on what we see from CPS when they do present their budget.

Of course, they're not expected to pass that until later on this month.

At there scheduled board meeting what do you need to see?

you like to see?

>> Well, I think it's important that the budget reflects what we're hearing from everyday Chicagoans and what I've heard from my elected school board members.

Basically, we don't want to do anything that's going to negatively impact the classroom.

First and foremost.

And secondly, I think it's important that we look long term at the fiscal stability of CPS.

It's important just not just a Chicago resident Sparta residents throughout the state that Chicago does well and specifically Chicago, public schools thrive and grow.

We are the economic driver for the state representative person question.

What do you need to see from CPS?

Well, look, I need to see a lot of changes for You know, CPS is to test and 4 year-olds.

>> For a handful of schools not really releasing information.

That's on test.

Cps has had on had a resolution since 20 go by.

They will look at how that rematch schools.

So should do that.

Given influx of students who come in and maybe some ways to save money back, looking at those re, not in addition, meeting starts at the top look at general counsel who paid expert to say that not all assault of a child.

It's traumatic.

I have a link concerns about what's CPS and so I would like to see quite a few changes.

And I think this president for that, we look at transit.

There's been conversations about not just sending funds 2 C T a R t without some kind of additional recent.

>> If a reinstatement of a school finance authority were to be on the table, what would that look like?

>> a good question.

I think you know, as said the committee hearing, there's a way to calibrate it to make it make sense for both the state and the city.

One of the things I think is important to note is that.

The NBA funds go to CPS are different from the way the fund ETF, of course, the evidence base funding.

yes, CPS case.

They're going to decide how to spend.

All right.

Everybody else has told how to spend it through that formula.

And so that would be one thing that I like to see is Ben does fall for that part every single year that I've done General Assembly.

Okay.

And I want to come back to as well as far as how CPS doles out its funds to schools.

>> Representative Williams, you know, often heard when covering CPS that not everyone.

It's not just that everybody needs a bigger piece of the pie is that we need a bigger pie.

How how can the state increase the amount of education funding that it provides across the state?

Not just a CBS report.

Well, >> I couldn't agree with you more.

And I think we're hearing that every day from our constituents not just in Chicago, but everywhere, but I think it's important to note that there are some structural inequities built into how schools are funded.

For example, Chicago public schools pay for most of their own pension payment where schools throughout the rest of the state.

The state contributes more.

I think the number is 4,000 per people for the rest of the state.

Chicago only gets 1000 per people.

So that's the kind of longer term conversation I think we need to have in addition to short-term how we handle the funding inequities now and today's in today's budget discussion I imagine they were historic arguments made at the time for white.

That deal was made.

Why CPS is only getting 1000 compared to 4,000.

>> And other expenses across the CBS Budget.

Absolutely actually dates back to the 18.

100's when CPS was the only pension game in town later, I think 30's or 40's school district from the rest of the state pooled their resources and the state funded their pensions.

We didn't provide any money toward pensions until 2017 when we did the school funding reform.

So we did a little bit We need to do more.

So among the reforms that you are suggesting, Representative Tarver, one of them is that the District, Dobson equity based funding formula last year.

You before.

I'm not CPS announced plans to shift away.

>> From Student-based budgeting which had been the longtime practice of the district.

How does the different funding formula for CPS?

How do you think that will impact student outcomes?

>> Well, I'll tell you can that high.

Some of those things is to now comes.

You know, when I look churches like aggressive and Salem, that's been hundreds of thousands of dollars over the summer to teach black boys how to read.

I were literacy program.

There's a problem community organizations and churches have to do that and CPS not that.

The fact that, you know, is little boys?

Can I read this?

Certainly more likely to end up in prison.

And so that would be one of the things that I would like to see again, actual outcomes tied to those funds, not just sending it to certain neighborhoods and schools but actual outcomes tied to those any particular outcome you've got in mind like scores or reading level.

would like I would like to see kids always been a great level that that would be a minimum to some basics.

Okay.

>> partnership between the district city in the state that was also mentioned as a potential solution at the hearing that you all held for the executive committee a few weeks ago.

What would that partnership look like?

What already happened?

>> What I want to say this and winds and agree with me, the state has been at the table.

>> Right.

There's been a lot of talk about the stain the table.

We've been at the table.

I think that the partnership will look very much like.

9 just simply having the board itself making everything decision because it's a hybrid board was ball.

4 was a fully elected school board, right?

Because of the mayoral control and now have the same thing in many regards.

So again, to stay put more money into the kitty, the station and more conversation about how those funds are spent.

I would and you have to be committee aspect to just has to how and we'll be a conversation.

Do you think that might get with a 21 member?

>> Board?

I think the board already has and will OK, that sounds like a conversation.

We're going to have to come back say more Representative Williams, the school district facing that deadline this month, as we mentioned to pass a balanced budget.

Do think they'll be able to achieve that?

>> Well, I think we its part to know it's not all bad news here.

We have made progress as my colleague referenced, we did the evidence base a lot does work.

It provides more funds to the schools that need it.

Most.

And I think it's also I'm optimistic.

It's also important to know that we are seeing improved student outcomes in CPS, which is really something to be proud of.

So I'm optimistic and hopeful that on Wednesday we'll see a budget that's responsible.

Looks forward and really reflects community's concerns.

You say the evidence base formula.

It's it supposed to reach adequacy by 2027.

>> Do you think that's going to happen?

Hey, we are working our way forward.

We're getting there.

We may be a little bit behind, but we also dealt with the pandemic just a few years ago.

>> But we are committed to doing what we can to make not only the school fund is funded at the level it is now but that we provide funds for