2026 State Budget Action

Thanks to strong advocacy from youth-serving organizations, families, educators, community leaders, and legislative champions, the Illinois General Assembly's draft FY27 budget does not include the significant cuts to afterschool and youth development programs that many feared earlier this year.

But our work is not finished.

While avoiding cuts is an important victory, level funding alone is not enough to meet rising costs, growing demand, and the urgent need to expand access to high-quality programs for Illinois students and families. Thousands of young people across Illinois still lack access to the afterschool, summer, and youth development opportunities that help them succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.

In addition, the current FY27 budget proposal does not include the coalition's request for $20 million to support Full-Service Community Schools—an investment desperately need to support the 19,000 students that had their funding ripped away by the Trump Administration.

There is still time for our state legislators to protect these programs before the final budget is passed this Sunday, May 31st! Use our Action Alert to tell the Illinois General Assembly to fully fund OST and community schools in the state budget TODAY.

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Dear {{legislator:role}} {{legislator:last_name}}, Thank you for your leadership and advocacy for Illinois students, families, afterschool programs, and community schools throughout this legislative session. I am grateful that the draft FY27 budget protects critical afterschool and youth development funding from the cuts many feared earlier this year. Your efforts have helped preserve programs that keep young people safe, engaged, and supported outside of school. But there is still more work to do. Level funding alone will not keep pace with rising costs, growing demand, and the need to expand access to high-quality programs. I am also concerned that the current budget proposal does not include the coalition's request for $20 million for Full-Service Community Schools. As final budget negotiations continue, I urge you to help bring these investments across the finish line by including: • HB3082 and a $50 million appropriation for afterschool programs • HB5362 and HB5363 to provide $20 million for Full-Service Community Schools • increasing Teen REACH funding to $25.4 million • increasing ISBE After School Programs funding to $42.54 million • increasing funding for After School Matters • increasing ICJIA R3 funding to $187.5 million, including $7.5 million for youth development •increasing youth development funding within the Governor's proposed RPSA investment Illinois has the opportunity to be a national leader in ensuring every young person has access to high-quality afterschool and community-based learning opportunities. Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to Illinois youth. Best, {{contact:first_name}} {{contact:last_name}}

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