A top Illinois education official says state lawmakers ought to be doing more about the violence that’s killed almost two-dozen Chicago Public Schools students since fall.

The Illinois House shot down an attempt to limit handgun purchases last week. But State Board of Education chairman Jesse Ruiz has something else mind. He wants what he calls wrap-around education services in Chicago.

RUIZ: I’d love to see every school in the district have all the resources to keep a child occupied from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

That means programs before and after school.

RUIZ: That will not only keep them hopefully out of harm’s way but also will help close the achievement gap.

A bill sponsored by Senate President Emil Jones would increase funding for schools while shifting the burden from property taxes to the state income tax.

Last week House leaders tried to raise money for education in a plan that would have doubled the income tax for people who make more than $250,000 a year. Republicans helped defeat the bill, calling it an election-year stunt.