State legislation to fund Illinois schools in the new fiscal year got Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's signature on Wednesday. 

Rauner signed the education budget bill as he and Democratic leaders remain at odds over the larger spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1. 

Under the bill, the state will spend $244 million more on K-12 education and $25 million more on early childhood education. Rauner's office said those spending levels are not as high as what the governor had proposed.

Still, Rauner said in a statement, "Education is the most important thing we do as a community. I would have done more for our schoolchildren, but I am taking action today to ensure our teachers are paid and our schools are open and funded."

State aid payments are slated to be delivered to schools starting August 10.

In response to Rauner signing the school funding bill, Senate President John Cullerton's (D-Chicago) spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said, "It shows that he may be ready to lean into government by prioritizing the issues that matter to families across the state.

"We're encouraging him to do the same with the rest of the budget bills or to have conversations with the legislators about how we can have a balanced approach to closing the budget gap," she added.