Illinois schools now have greater flexibility and can offer students more opportunities, Rep. Christine Winger (R-Wood Dale) said in a press release following House passage of Senate Bill 1947.
“This funding formula has been broken for too long,” Winger said in the release. “Today’s agreement is a historic step forward for education funding, one that will help our students have the opportunities they deserve to succeed while also ensuring all school districts are treated fairly.”
Winger described SB1947 as the result of bipartisan compromises among legislative leaders to ensure that Illinois schools receive adequate and fair funding via an evidence-based formula. The new model sets adequacy targets for each school district, and no school will see a decrease in state funding.
Rep. Christine Winger (R-Wood Dale)
| http://www.ilga.gov/house/rep.asp?MemberID=2461
The bill also makes some changes to physical education requirements, including reducing the frequency from daily to a minimum of three days per week, Winger noted. It also includes a way for some homeowners to seek property tax relief if their school districts are already adequately funded.
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