Illinois lawmakers announce plan to close school funding gap

A plan to significantly boost funding for public education in Illinois has been introduced to both houses of the state Legislature as some lawmakers aim to eventually tax millionaires and digital advertisement to help bridge billions needed to finance schools.Standing among teachers, members of the Chicago Teacher’s Union and others in the education field, sponsors state Sen. Graciela Guzmán, D-Chicago, and state Rep. Will Davis, D-Hazel Crest, announced on Monday the introduction of their respective bills to fund Illinois schools to match the requirements of a nearly decade-old benchmark the General Assembly set for itself.In 2017, lawmakers passed the evidence-based funding formula, which allocates funds to schools based on their individual needs and demographics. With it came the promise to fund each school’s needs by at least 90% by 2027, as well as “mandated categoricals” — such as transportation for students with disabilities and aspects of special education — that schools are required to fund via state and federal law.The new proposals, introduced last week, would fulfill the requirement — bridging a $5 billion gap that increased for the second year in a row last year, increasing $573 million — while fully funding the “mandated categoricals.”“The evidence-based formula was designed to correct generations of disinvestment,” said Guzmán, a former CTU organizer. “But it only works if it’s actually funded. …This bill is about fulfilling our promise that Illinois should meet the needs of our students, families and communities.”The proposals don’t directly hike taxes but Guzmán pointed to other proposals that…

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