Sidebar: Education programs get a boost by John Myers August, 2007

The $4.6 billion FY08 operating budget includes $60 million in additional funding for some of the district’s core education programs. Here’s a preview:

Core instruction programs: $17 million
* High school transformation project … $8 million
* New elementary materials … $6 million
* Benchmark assessments (Learning First/DIBELS) … $2 million
* Science and library enhancements … $1 million

Professional development: $6 million
* Teacher induction … $2 million
* Saturday teacher training … $1.5 million
* Principal mentoring … $1.3 million
* Prep for National Board certification … $1.2 million

Other programs: $37 million
* Full-day kindergarten … $10 million
* Elementary after-school programs … $5 million
* Community schools … $5 million
* ACT/Prairie State prep … $3.5 million
* Post-secondary careers … $3 million
* Sports programs … $2.3 million
* Saturday academies … $1.5 million
* AVID college prep … $1.35 million
* Counselors (during summer school) … $1.35 million
* High school credit recovery … $1 million
* College Bridge courses at participating colleges … $1 million
* Freshman drop-out prevention … $1 million
* Additional high school support … $1 million