Governor's budget means $141 million additional funding for downstate schools

Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced this week that his budget, passed by the Illinois Senate last month, will pour an additional $141 million into downstate schools for early childhood education, mandated categoricals and a $250 per student increase in general state aid.

The governor made the announcement after visiting pre-schools in three different Illinois communities.

He called on members of the Illinois House of Representatives to approve a state budget that includes funding to enroll more at-risk children in pre-school and new funding for education and healthcare. The budget funds this state's priorities without raising the sales on income taxes.

Currently, …