Chance the Rapper is donating $1 million to Chicago's public schools
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Version 0 of 1. Chance the Rapper said that he will donate $1 million to the Chicago's public school system for arts education. He made the announcement that he would give money to his hometown’s schools at a press conference at Westcott Elementary School. Chance met with Illinois governor Bruce Rauner late last week to discuss public education in the city due to the budget crisis being faced by Chicago Public Schools. The artist said he was “frustrated and disappointed” with Governor Rauner’s “vague” answers on how to solve the budget problems and noted, “our kids should not be held hostage because of political positions.” Governor Rauner recently vetoed a bill that likely would have enabled the school district to pay $215 million for bills and pension payments. Earlier today, Governor Rauner proposed two possible solutions to solve the budget crisis, however Mayor Rahm Emanuel rejected both proposals. Unpaid furloughs, a $15 million cut to charter schools, a $5 million cut to professional development, and a freeze on textbook, technology, and after school program spending from a $31 million discretionary fund are some of the measures taken by the school district but a budget deficit of $129 million persists. The district has asked a Cook County to judge to order the state to give it more money before 1 May or risk having to close schools 20 days early. Chicago school officials are also suing the state because they feel the way the state allocates funds to the urban school district is discriminatory. The donation will be sourced from proceeds of his tour beginning on 24 April in San Diego. He will also make an additional $10,000 donation for after school maths and reading classes at Westcott Elementary. Chance asked during the press conference for others to “fight with [him]” and also announced that his non profit, Social Works Chicago, will match every $10,000 made in donations to Chicago Public Schools. |