Illinois lawmaker seeks revamp of school funding formula
Source: Reuters
World | Tue Apr 5, 2016 5:36pm EDT
Illinois lawmaker seeks revamp of school funding formula
Illinois would rip up its nearly 20-year-old school funding formula and replace it with one that would send more money to districts with high levels of poor students, including the cash-strapped Chicago Public Schools (CPS), under a proposal unveiled by a state lawmaker on Tuesday.
Democratic State Senator Andy Manar said he will file legislation on Wednesday to establish a more equitable school funding system that will drive resources to high-need, high-poverty districts.
"Our (existing) formula is almost punitive to children who live in poverty today," Manar told reporters at the state capitol in Springfield.
He said his plan would replace the formula adopted in 1997, while ensuring the state funds all districts at fiscal 2016 levels for four years.
[font size=1]
-snip-[/font]
Read more:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-education-idUSKCN0X22P3