Battle Ahead for School Funding Reform in Illinois
A+ Illinois
and other advocacy groups, such as Students
First Illinois, Better
Funding for Better Schools Coalition, Core4Kids,
and the Coalition
for School Funding Reform, are calling for Illinoisans
to contact their state representatives. These proponents
of change are urging their lawmakers to solve the state’s
school funding crisis in a way that gives all children
the opportunity for a quality education and provides
property tax relief. They assert that these goals can
be accomplished by reversing the large decrease over
recent years in the state’s share of education
funding. In addition, Better Funding for Better Schools
is organizing a rally, “The Day for Illinois Children”
at the state capitol in Springfield on May 18th to make
clear to lawmakers the importance of solving this crisis
now.
While reformers are calling for a greater state share
in funding education, the Education Funding Advisory
Board (EFAB), a group created by statute in 1999 to
make recommendations on the amount of funding it takes
to ensure that each child in Illinois receives a quality
education, released updated figures on the foundation
level needed for the 2005-06 school year. They determined
that a minimum per-pupil funding level of $6,405 should
be guaranteed by the state, based on a 2002 costing-out
study conducted by national experts. Illinois' current
foundation level is significantly below the recommended
amount, providing just $4,964 per pupil for the 2004-05
school year.
Even Governor Rod Blagojevich admitted that the state's
school-funding system places too great a burden on local
property owners in an address to the Illinois General
Assembly on the 2006 budget proposal. But the governor’s
proposals thus far have been inadequate in addressing
the funding problem. In the meantime, the rejection
of local school referenda could result in teacher layoffs,
program cuts, and even possibly a shorter school day.
The legislature is considering a bill that would raise
more money for schools through increases in income and
sales taxes, but the Governor has said publicly that
he opposes raising taxes.
Prepared by Melissa Mangino, April 25, 2005 |
