Dive Brief:

• Despite calls for cuts in almost every other department, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner wants to see a $300 million spike in K-12 funding.
• On Wednesday, Rauner told legislators that he wants a 6.7% increase in general state aid.
• He plans to offset the boost by defunding higher education.

Dive Insight:

Rauner, a wealthy private-equity investor, ran against populist Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn in November, and their race was largely grounded in debates over education. Last March, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigian suggested a constitutional amendment that would tack a 3% surcharge on incomes over $1 million. The proposal was pegged to raise $1 billion for K-12 education in just one year. At the time, representatives for Rauner said he would not support the plan, but that he would put more funding down for schools. Wednesday’s announcement is a follow-up on that promise.