By AP/KWMU
Springfield, Ill – Child advocates say inadequate school funding and a lack of family support are causing some Illinois students to perform poorly in school.
The 2004 Illinois Kids Count report says that 40 percent of Illinois' public schools did not meet state learning standards last year.
The poor performance can be attributed to major spending gaps among school districts, according to Frank Kopecky, a board member for Voices for Illinois Children, which put out the report.
The report says the state should reduce its reliance on property taxes and increase income taxes to improve the education system.
The report also says more than 46 percent of students are being raised in impoverished or low-income families.
Kopecky says these students often have trouble concentrating on their studies.