Discrepancies in school funding in Illinois

I read an interesting article titled "Illinois School Funding Failure:  A Continued National Embarrassment" (http://www.aplusillinois.org/documents/IllinoisFundingFailure-EdWeek.pdf).  I think it was the title that drew me to it in the first place when I was looking for information on funding in Illinois.  The first sentence states that Illinois fails to ensure that every child gets a high-quality education supported by adequate resources.  We are one of the worst states when it comes to spending money in our high-poverty districts, second only to New York.  On average, the states with high-poverty districts have fewer resources, spending on average $907 less revenue per student than a low poverty school district.  Illinois spends $2065 less per pupil in high-poverty districts compared to low-poverty districts.  Illinois received a D+ for resource equity in 2005 (the most recent year I could find) but had received an F for the four previous years.  This is amazing.  Although this gap is unbelievable, what's truly amazing is that it requires more spending and resources to educate our students in these high poverty areas and yet they receive the least amount of money.  When I think of the out of school factors that affect our students in the poorest neighborhoods, it is no wonder that these kids are so far behind their peers from wealthier districts.  And as these kids advance in school, so does the achievement gap.  "Per-pupil spending gaps add up to drastic resource inequities at the classroom and school level. According to the “Funding Gap 2005” report, Illinois spending gap equates to a difference of $51,625 between a classroom of 25 students in a low-poverty district and a class of 25 students in a high-poverty district (no adjustment for low-income students). Illinois spending gap translates to a difference of over $3 million dollars between a high-poverty and low-poverty district high school of 1,500 students."  And yet, 'unsatisfactory' teachers are still blamed for out students performing below grade level in our poorest areas.  When will funding become equitable across the state?  In my opinion, I would say never.  There is too much money and politics involved for any real change to take place.  Legislators will just continue to blame the schools for not educating our students instead of trying to correct the gap in resources for our schools.