The Illinois Senate held a subject matter hearing to discuss two education funding plans: SB 1 (Sen. Andy Manar) and SB 1124 and SB 1125 (Sen. Jason Barickman).
The sponsors presented their bills to the Senate Education committee; at their core, both measures are based on the evidence-based model. (Read this NPR story for a good explanation of the evidence-based model.) The model examines national best practices for student achievement and costs those out to determine its adequacy rate, leading to a transparent process that lets school districts and parents see where their dollars are being spent. The formula contains 27 different elements, including full-day kindergarten, capping K-3 classes at 15 students, adding specialist teachers, and improving classroom technology.
Despite some similarities, the proposals are very different. Sen. Barickman’s bills would eliminate the Chicago block grant, which is essential to funding Chicago Public Schools. It also contains mandate relief similar to that in SB 13 of the “grand bargain”. SB 1124 and SB 1125 would also allow third-party contracting of non-instructional employees without accountability, eliminate the requirement that schools provide drivers education, and remove the requirement for daily physical education. The IFT strongly opposes these measures.
By contrast, Manar’s SB 1 includes money for Chicago and does not include harmful mandate relief.
With session scheduled to end on May 31, its unknown whether the full Senate will take a vote on a school funding proposal this session.
Source: Illinois Federation of Teachers