Administrators and teachers will get paid more, but students would gain nothing from an evidence-based school funding model, Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) recently contended.
“It does nothing to focus on student outcomes and is all about requiring more of taxpayers,” Ives told the DuPage Policy Journal. “Taxpayers stand to be the biggest losers by being asked to fund a school model that could cost as much as $6 billion that has failed to improve student achievement in every other state where it’s been implemented.”
Gov. Bruce Rauner used an amendatory veto on the state's funding measure, Senate Bill 1, to strip it of additional benefits for Chicago Public Schools that he felt were unfair to other state schools. The bill was returned to legislators for approval or override. If neither is done by the end of the month, the bill will die, and schools would remain without state funds.
Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton)
Rauner also inserted language that would eventually move the state from a newly introduced per-district evidence-based funding model to a per-pupil model.
Ives said the evidence-based model doesn't work.
“The only people gaining from this bill are teachers and administrative people who will be paid more based on what a formula says,” Ives said. “It tells you things like how much staff you need, and there are other gains in bureaucracy, but nothing for the classroom.”
Ives is calling on her constituents – and the state as a whole – to demand a different approach.
“It’s important taxpayers contact their legislators now and let them know there has to be a better way to fund schools," Ives said. “All concerned taxpayers need to raise their voices now,” she said.
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