UPDATE, Aug. 29, 2017 / From the Office of the Governor on Senate Vote
“Today, members of the Illinois Senate voted in favor of legislation that will bring historic education reform to Illinois children and their families. First, I would like to thank Senate President John Cullerton and Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady and other members for working together to close the gap on school funding and making sure every child across the state will have access to the best education,” said Governor Bruce Rauner in a written statement.
“For far too long, too many low-income students in our state have been trapped in underfunded, failing schools. The system needed to change. We have changed it. We have put aside our differences and put our kids first. It’s a historic day for Illinois.
“Our leaders worked together to provide school choice protection for parents who want the best education possible for their children. This is accomplished by ensuring that district-authorized charter schools receive equal funding, and by providing families with limited financial resources the same access to private schools. The Tax Credit Scholarship program encourages individuals and businesses to enable families to choose the school that best meets the needs of their children.
“This compromise also provides much-needed mandate relief for school districts and presents avenues for property tax relief. School districts will be given flexibility in how they schedule physical education curriculum and how they administer driver’s education curriculum. In more affluent school districts, this bill provides taxpayers with a chance to lower their property taxes through the referendum process.
“This is just the beginning of transforming education funding. I want Illinois to be the No. 1 state in the nation for education. Nothing is more important than educating our children.”
Illinois House of Representatives changes how state will fund public education
Posted Aug. 28, 2017 / SPRINGFIELD… Today members of the Illinois House of Representatives approved sweeping changes to how the state will fund public education.
In response to the 73-34-3 vote on amended SB 1947<http://ilga.gov/
“Today, members of the Illinois House of Representatives voted to bring historic education reform to Illinois children and their families. I want to thank Speaker Madigan, Leader Durkin and their staff members for finding common ground that will reverse the inequities of our current school funding system,” said Governor Bruce Rauner in a written statement.
Gov. Rauner continued…
“Aligned with the framework provided by the Illinois School Funding Reform Commission – a bipartisan, bicameral working group chaired by the Secretary of Education – this bill has much to celebrate. First, every district in Illinois will have an adequacy target based on 27 elements brought forth through an “evidence-based model” of school funding. Second, new state funds will be distributed to ensure that those districts with the largest gap between current spending and adequacy will be funded first. Third, no district will lose state funding as compared to last year.
“The compromise includes the much-needed flexibility for school districts through mandate relief, while providing avenues for property tax relief. It increases transparency related to how districts are funded through local, state and federal resources.
“It protects the rights of parents to choose the school that best meets the needs of their children – providing more school choice for children from low-income families. By setting yearly minimum funding targets, this bill also ensures that Illinois will continue to invest in our most important resource – our children’s education.
“I encourage members of the Senate to also pass this bill, which I will sign quickly in order to ensure that our schools – many of which have already opened for the 2017-2018 school year – receive their much-needed resources.”
State Rep David S. Olsen added…
“Much of the discussion surrounding changes to the school funding formula in recent weeks has been tied to peripheral issues. We must not forget that at its core this is sweeping change based on years of study and many recommendations from the School Funding Reform Commission. We are now embracing an evidence-based model that should help every individual student succeed.”
“This proposal secures historic funding levels for all Illinois school districts. No school district will lose money under this plan. The compromise ensures a high quality education for all Illinois students and prioritizes funding for the most impoverished schools and students. Chicago Public Schools’ normal pension costs are to be paid in the same manner as all other school districts—outside the school funding formula.”
“The bill we approved in the House today is truly the result of bipartisan compromise and was the only education funding bill proposed that was able to achieve the supermajority support needed to pass. There are elements of this bill I do not like. But there are other elements, like unfunded mandate relief, that will benefit the taxpayers in the 81st District. As is the case with any successful compromise, no one is walking away 100% pleased, but every lawmaker can point to some provisions in this new school funding bill that helps our districts and our taxpayers.”
“As the provisions of SB 1947 are implemented in school districts across Illinois, we will be able to determine if the new model is having the desired effect on student learning. We always have the ability to amend this portion of the school code to make this new evidence-based model more efficient and effective.”
