“The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”
From time to time I share information and news regarding the public education funding structure in Illinois.
"...The State has the primary responsibility for financing the system of public education."
t could support infrastructure and construction costs. This sales tax would apply in a fair and equitable manner across the county – it’s in place in many areas in Illinois, unfortunately it’s not yet in place in Lake County.Earlier this year, in August, I posted a video and links related to the Illinois Vision 20/20 initiative (see excerpts):
I have written about the Illinois Vision 20/20 initiative over the past few years in an effort to share policy information and proposed legislation that will benefit Illinois public schools and Illinois public school children. What I like about the initiative is that it is “for” as opposed to “against”, and the issues are relevant, timely and meaningful. The vision involves support for highly effective educators, 21st Century learning, shared accountability, and equitable and adequate funding.
For links to previous blog posts, click: A little bit more about Illinois Vision 20/20, and Taking a Stand for Public Education-Illinois Vision 20/20
A hot topic is school finance and the Illinois Vision 20/20 team has produced a video about the funding model supported and proposed by the coalition.
This year the Governor has commissioned a task force to look at and improve (I hope) the funding model for Illinois public education from the current bad model to an evidence based Adequacy/Equity model. “The commission will have a goal of presenting funding reform recommendations by February 1, 2017, in order to draft legislation for the spring session to take effect for Fiscal Year 2018.” (source linked above)
In addition to the Vision 20/20 video, I’m sharing a news clip on this same subject From Chicago Tonight – WTTW television (PBS in Chicago)
All citizens of Illinois should be educated and informed about civics, structures that support the public, education funding, and legislation (in my opinion). Since there are so many rules, regulations and complexities involved with school funding, it’s a moral and civic imperative, I believe, for the citizens of our state to know and understand the what, how, why, and where of this impactful topic.
