Dive Brief:

• $97 million in funding cut from Illinois schools is being restored and redisbursed among the state's districts. 
• The plan, which was supported by Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois State Board of Education, targets districts that could potentially find themselves in a financial crisis — including Chicago Public Schools, which is getting $33 million. 
• Around 600 of the state's more than 800 districts have money coming their way, but the restored funds still don't make up for an overall 2.25% budget cut.

Dive Insight:

Under the plan, CPS and 32 other districts will see 95% of their cuts restored. Another 546 districts are getting 75% of their funding back, with those remaining deemed ineligible.

This restoration, while a good thing, does not necessarily fix the state's bigger budget woes. This is problematic, as we've seen in other states like Pennsylvania and cities like Detroit, where financially issues typically spiral into one another. A lack of funding in schools leads to fewer resources and learning opportunities, which lead to lower scores and penalties, resulting in costly interventions. It's an incredibly difficult cycle to get out of.