Officials from the Illinois State Board of Education denied that the programs discriminate against any students, saying in a statement: "Illinois will never waver in its commitment to helping every child from every community, background, socioeconomic status, gender, and race — which is consistent with federal and state laws and our values."
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson previously threatened to sue the federal Department of Education over the threat to withhold funding, saying in a statement, "The administration specifically threatened to defund our Title I schools, which are our high-poverty schools that serve our children with the highest needs."
He added, "We will do everything in our power to fight back against this overreach from the federal government, including exploring all of our legal options in response to any potential cuts."