While the just-passed budget deal appropriates just a half year of funding for most government services, schools get a full year.
Senate Democrats lost their battle to rewrite the state’s inequitable funding formula – the current method Illinois uses to fund schools will stay in place. That pleased Bloomington Republican State Senator Jason Barickman, who had backed an "evidence-based" funding model.
In a statement, Barickman said, “This is a major win for our schools, children and taxpayers, finally ending the practice of proration, providing help to needy districts in all corners of our state, and ensuring that a generation of students aren’t put further at risk due to political theater."
But the plan that passed increases overall school funding by more than $330 million. And it directs extra money to schools with a high percentage of students in poverty.
That’s good enough for Sue Rezin, a Republican from Morris.
“And we appreciate it because we have school districts if this budget did not pass, that literally would not be opening their doors this fall," Rezin said.
Higher education doesn’t fair quite as well. They only got partial funding. Colleges and universities will get $1 billion, most of which will go to the nine state universities, and to cover Monetary Award Program grants for low-income students.
