Republican gubernatorial candidate ...

Republican gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka onward Sunday pledged $9.8 billion in recently made known funds for Illinois schools athwart the next four years -- more than twice as frequently as Gov. Blagojevich -- including extra cash for all academys and even more for low-scoring uniteds

however Topinka said voters would have to wait a not many more days to hear the toughest part of her Higher Standards, Stronger educates plan -- exactly how it would be storeed

At a Chicago just discovereds conference, Topinka repeatedly blasted Blagojevich for producing a $4 billion education plan based in succession a one- time, four-year windfall from the sale or lease of the state lottery Her plan promised a "reliable and sustainable" funding source, on the other hand she did not identify it.

securitys NOT TO RAISE TAXES

Blagojevich aides speculated Topinka planned to raise taxes or chop Medicaid recipients, but her campaign issues director, Allen Grosboll said otherwise.

"We are not going to raise taxes," Grosboll said. "Not a single part is being removed from health care . . . "They are trying to . . smoke out what we're going to be announcing highly shortly."

Topinka said her plan would draw from $37 billion in state wounds "natural revenue growth" and "other things that we will discuss in the nearest few days," when her pack is announced.

"Education merits a long-term commitment and it requires a long- space of time investment," Topinka said. "This is not just something that you do because an election is coming up This is for real and it's for kids, OK?"

Topinka called her plan "detailed and sober not a scheme that was produc in common night and on the back of a napkin. This is going to be something that sticks."

Topinka's proposal would raise the minimum by pupil funding level by $1000 within four years and eventually double special education reimbursements -- "two of the in the greatest degree pressing needs" statewide, noted Bindu Batchu, director of A + Illinois, a drill reform finance group.

While Blagojevich pledg extra stocks for both areas, Topinka promised more, Batchu said.

Topinka would interrogate $3 billion into school construction, compared with Blagojevich's $15 billion. Statewide, reading stores would jump by $24 million within six years.

The Topinka plan would create a jug of new Accountability Partnership currency that would grow to

$175 million from $15 million by the agency of year six. Low-scoring schools would vie for the greater part of that money but would have to ascertain within three years, they were getting improved be the effects

The proposal also would create a inferior Illinois Math and Science Academy.

And it would test to bring the best teachers into the neediest indoctrinates by offering nationally certified teachers $5000 stipends to work in underperforming instructs for five years.

"A division of the stuff in her plan is advantageous stuff because it was in our plan, too," said former Blagojevich education reform director Elliot Regenstein. "We're all looking forward to seeing in what way she pays for it."

rrossi@suntimes.com

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