Illinois is falling further behind in its goal of bringing all school districts up to adequate funding levels.
Capitol News Illinois reports the State Board of Education released details of how it will distribute $9.3 billion in Evidence-Based Funding for public schools in the upcoming year.
That’s a $350 million increase over last year. Despite the increase, however, fewer districts will be funded at or above 90 percent of their adequacy target. And the adequacy gap in school funding will grow to $6.8 billion dollars.
State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders says that’s due to rising costs and a sharp drop in recent years in certain kinds of business taxes. Sanders said he still believes the Evidence-Based Funding formula is working and that overall, Illinois is making strides in improving public school funding.
