Springfield, IL-(ENEWSPF)- A plan to increase state funding for area school districts passed the Senate today with support from State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights).
“Illinois’ school funding formula hasn’t been updated in decades,” Hutchinson said. “The proposal I supported today would target more state resources to the schools that need it the most.”
Senate Bill 231 would update Illinois’ current method of funding school districts by targeting state monies based on a Weighted Foundation Level tied to characteristics of each school district, including low-income pupil count, the number of English language learners and special education students.
A majority of school districts in the 40th District would see an increase in the amount of funds received from the state every year, including:
• Bloom Township H.S. Dist. 206 ($3,265,202 increase)
• Bradley SD 61 ($88,300 increase)
• Chicago Heights SD 170 ($1,826,585 increase)
• Kankakee SD 111 ($2,571,115 increase)
• Park Forest – Chicago Heights SD 163 ($1,955,730 increase)
• Pembroke Community Consolidated School District #259 ($125,906 increase)
• St. Anne Community High School #302 ($84,004 increase)
School districts not receiving increased state funding from this plan would see the same amount of funding next school year as they did this year.
“For too long, students living in communities with little property wealth have been relegated to a sub-par education,” Hutchinson said. “A student’s ZIP code should not determine the level of education they receive in the wealthiest nation in the world.”
Senate Bill 231 passed the Senate May 10 and now heads to the Illinois House for further debate.
