Hundreds of Illinois educators and state workers gathered outside the statehouse in Springfield, advocating for increased education funding. The Illinois Federation of Teachers, along with other groups, called on lawmakers to "tax the rich" to support schools across the state. Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates highlighted the financial struggles faced by educators, stating, "We have people here today that put more money in their classrooms than their districts sometimes want to put into their paychecks." Gates also criticized lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker for not taking sufficient action, urging them to go beyond press conferences. Despite the 2017 evidence-based funding model promising adequate education funding, educators argue they are still waiting for full financial support.