Unlocking Futures: State Board of Education Requests $11.4 Billion Boost for PreK-12 Funding – The Times Weekly

Recently, the Illinois State Board of Education approved a new budget of nearly $11.4 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. This marks a 4.6% increase compared to last year’s budget, even with warnings of a revenue shortfall looming for the state.

A significant part of this budget aims to increase funding for the most vulnerable school districts. The plan includes a $350 million boost in “Evidence-Based Funding,” adhering to a 2017 law that prioritizes new educational spending where it’s needed most.

Additionally, the proposal covers a $142 million rise in “mandatory categorical” aid, which supports essential needs like transportation and special education, and adds $75 million for early childhood education programs.

State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders emphasized that the budget aims to strike a balance between acknowledging the state’s financial challenges and ensuring vital investments in education that impact student learning directly.

Funding for PreK-12 education represents a significant portion of the state’s budget, making up about 20% of all General Revenue Fund spending. This funding supports over 850 school districts, providing education to roughly 1.9 million students.

However, it’s important to note that state funding constitutes only a fraction of total public education spending. In 2021, state contributions accounted for about 26% of the total, while local sources, primarily property taxes, provided around 65%. The remaining funds came from federal sources.

The heavy reliance on local property taxes has led to significant disparities in how districts are funded. To address this issue, the Evidence-Based Funding formula was established to ensure that no district loses funding and that new resources are allocated to those most in need.

This formula estimates the costs of delivering quality education based on factors like student enrollment, the number of low-income students, and students who speak languages other than English at home. The aim is to raise all districts to at least 90% of what is deemed necessary for adequacy.

Since the introduction of this funding method, Illinois has allocated nearly $2.2 billion to school districts through the Evidence-Based Funding system. Notably, funding for the most under-resourced districts has increased from 59.2% to 73.4% of their target adequacy. Yet, around 70% of students in Illinois still attend schools in districts receiving less than the required 90% of funding for adequate education. Bringing all districts to that level would need an additional $2.6 billion.

In November, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget forecasted that due to mandated funding increases, rising costs, and stagnant revenue growth, the state could face a budget shortfall of $3.2 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. Governor JB Pritzker plans to address this issue in his budget speech to the General Assembly on February 19.

Despite the challenges, Superintendent Sanders expressed optimism that Pritzker and state lawmakers would find a way to balance the budget while still supporting education funding. “It’s encouraging to see a commitment to public education, even in challenging financial times,” he stated.

Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois