[Comments now open.]
* Press release…
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s plan to reform the school funding formula would send more money to the neediest school districts in Illinois, according to an analysis released today by the Illinois State Board of Education.
ISBE’s analysis found that 97.5 percent of the 852 school districts in Illinois receive more state funding under the governor’s plan compared to Senate Bill 1, as written. Under the governor’s plan, no school district would receive less funding this upcoming school year than it received last year.
“This is what equity and fairness in education funding looks like,” Gov. Rauner said. “Improving Illinois’ education system has been my top priority as governor. I made these changes to Senate Bill 1 because that legislation fails to ensure fairness and equity for all children across Illinois. My changes guarantee that some of our state’s neediest districts will receive significantly more funding.”
But, if you click here and open the spreadsheet, then click the “ISBE analysis” tab and scroll all the way to the bottom, you’ll see that Chicago Public Schools, with about 20 percent of the state’s students, would gain just $28.7 million over last fiscal year. That’s only about a 2 percent gain for CPS, but according to the governor’s spreadsheet, Rauner’s plan provides for a ten percent overall funding increase to all schools (column C compared to column D).
Even so, something doesn’t appear right. I need more time to compare Rauner’s original spreadsheet (click here) to his newest spreadsheet (click here). Feel free to e-mail me your own thoughts.
* And make extra sure to keep this in mind…
Yep, and when it does, things get much worse for CPS and lots of other schools.
…Adding… This is what I was referring to above about some confusing numbers…
Chicago Public Schools would receive $463 million less in funding under Gov. Bruce Rauner’s school funding plan than the measure approved by the Democrat-controlled Illinois General Assembly.
That’s according to an analysis released Saturday afternoon by the Illinois State Board of Education. The district-by-district breakdown was made public a day before the Illinois Senate will reconvene in Springfield to consider an override of Rauner’s amendatory veto of the school funding legislation.
The governor’s original spreadsheet claimed SB1 increases funding for CPS by $293 million. His plan would, he claimed at the time, increase CPS funding by $148 million. His new spreadsheet claims SB1 increases CPS funding by over $490 million, while his AV would increase it by $28 million.
Odd.
…Adding More… The full ISBE report is now online. Click here.
…Adding More… Tribune…
The data indicate CPS would receive $463 million less than under the Democrats’ bill, but Rauner’s office contends it’s only $241 million less because the governor supports picking up $221 million in pension costs for the district. That money has not been approved yet, however.
The governor’s office is trying to count that $221 million twice: Once for all schools and the second time for CPS pensions. Math is apparently quite difficult for the governor.
- illini - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 11:58 am:
Most of us have known, or at least suspected, for a long time that Gov. Rauner has had problems with basic math and accounting practices. There is now ample evidence that this has rubbed off on his Superstars and the BTIA(tm)as well.
- Oswego Willy - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 12:03 pm:
“We were told there would be no math questions when we took over the Governor’s Office” - IPI’s BTIA(tm)
- yikes - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 12:38 pm:
Manar’s gonna have one heck of a time explaining this one back home. https://www.illinoispolicy.org/manar-rejects-funding-changes-that-would-bring-8-7m-more-to-his-school-districts/
- Groundhog Day - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 12:40 pm:
The vulture capitalist is counting on our trust in his big brain. I suspect he is surprised we have double checked these numbers.
- Jocko - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 12:41 pm:
Rauner knew his numbers stunk two weeks ago. The next question is who says the “B word” (bailout) first today, Barickman, Brady, or Rauner?
- Moe Berg - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
From a headlines perspective, at least for today, the BTIA ™ has gotten a couple they wanted:
H&R: Rauner: Decatur schools get $3 million more under veto plan (Rauner tweeted this)
S-T: “CPS would lose nearly $500 million under gov’s school funding plan”
Trib: Rauner analysis shows his education veto would cost CPS $463 million
Many papers, however, appear to have no stories. Including, SJR, Daily Herald, CN-G, PJ-S, and The Southern. Online TV doesn’t seem to have caught up with the news either.
So, the release of an analysis meant to give opponents little time to study, with the hopes of bamboozling the media, may have actually not gotten much attention, and now the critics will have an opportunity to weigh in today, point out how much districts will be hurt in two short years, and shape the coverage that starts the Monday news cycle.
May have to chalk this one up as yet another stumble from the BTIA ™, coming off the terrible Friday Fox sitdown with Bret Baier.
- Oswego Willy - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 12:50 pm:
===Manar’s gonna have one heck of a time explaining this one back home.===
The “think tank” IPI
===showing more than 97 percent of Illinois school districts will gain additional state funding under the governor’s amendatory veto when compared with the original version of SB 1, including the schools in Manar’s own district.===
So… The governor either purposely misled the Chicago numbers, or the governor’s IPI people can’t do math… and you’re worried about Manar back home?
LOL
- Anony - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 12:59 pm:
Sounds like Rauner realizes he won’t do well in Chicago anyway, so he takes $ from them and gives it out in potentially more friendly areas….
- Anon221 - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 1:20 pm:
Rauner’s plan is like a payday loan- “I’ll give you so much more now, but in two years, I’m taking it back with a high interest penalty.”
Fortunately school districts can see through the guy waving the arrow on the side of the road, and they are opposed to signing over their school “title” for a short term “loan”.
Override in the Senate and override in the House, then work on any worthy compromises. If not, school funding will be tied up in a Gordian knot until at least January when Rauner used it for campaign fodder in the State of the State.
http://fundingilfuture.org/statement-on-isbe-model-of-sb1-amendatory-veto/
- Rich Miller - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 1:24 pm:
yikes, that’s true only if you believe in the Fiscal Fairy.
- wordslinger - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 1:24 pm:
–Math is apparently quite difficult for the governor.–
IPI, too. But on this point, they know what they’re doing.
A late drop of a load of numbers to give cover to GOP Senators on the override attempt.
I trust the Senate Dems have been working overnight running the numbers? Hopefully we’ll hear from them soon.
Because history has shown you can’t take honesty or accuracy for granted with Rauner or IPI.
- Mean Gene - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 1:28 pm:
I’m confused. Governor Rauner has told the state of Illinois that a “property tax freeze” is vital for our future.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-property-taxes-springfield-met-0528-20170527-story.html
It was so important, Illinois went without a budget for over 2 years.
Now, he wants to create an education system that relies more on local capacity by $750 million.
That means, if everything went his way, a local property tax freeze would be in place, and local governments would be told to meet more of the burden of their education, without the ability to raise property taxes.
- Dorm Room Thinker - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 2:08 pm:
The squeeze on schools in 2 years would make more sense (ideologically for IPI) in a true free market, statewide open enrollment system. Each IL student would be assigned a set state $$$$ that could be applied to tuition in a private school or go to the charter, open-enrollment public school that has seats avilable for outside district students.
- cdog - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 2:21 pm:
I suspect a portion of the $463m (the $221m, or the $241m) CPS loses in the AV, was what House Dems tacked on at midnight , May 31.
Hard to feel sympathy for folks (CPS, Dems, Madigan) that do business like that, especially business concerning children and their families.
Also, any school which has significant lower enrollment in two years, should expect a haircut in how much funding they receive from the state. To think otherwise is nuts.
- wordslinger - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 2:22 pm:
–Amanda Vinicky@AmandaVinicky
Rauner: Chicago has gamed the system, I’ve seen it for myself it’s a “patronage operation not as an education institution.”–
Ladies and gentlemen, the governor of Illinois, going full Mushroom secessionist.
- Rich Miller - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 2:26 pm:
Word, he has first hand knowledge of patronage at CPS. Remember how he clouted his kid into Walter Payton Prep?
- wordslinger - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 2:28 pm:
LOL, oh, now I get it.
Who better to expose corrupt, insider practices at CPS then?
- JS Mill - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 2:28 pm:
@Dorm Room Thinker- Your chosen moniker fits. Perfectly.
Your fantasy land premis is true only under the follow conditions:
1- All students have equal access to multiple schools.
2- All students live in the same geographic are and can walk to school in all weather conditions (proximity)
3- All students learn at the same rate and in the same manner.
4- All students have the same needs.
5- All schools, public and private operate under the exact same rules.
None of the above are true or possible with the exception of #5 although unrealistic be uSe it would require radical changes to school codes.
If Money come from the state then the “market” is not free but subsidized and the concept of “private” schools would no longer exists. All schools would then be public as a result of public funding.
Furthermore the fantasy of “free marketers” is in fact a fantasm. When downstate children have only one option within 20, 30, or even 40 miles there is no choice or “marker”.
My suggestion is to go back to the BTIA(tm) dorm and rework your programming to add som less easily “free market” gobbledygook.
Maybe a call to the Kansas franchise is in order? I hear they have a real utopia there.
- JS Mill - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 2:34 pm:
@cdog- In theory a school losing “significant” enrollment would probably lose funding under the EBM.
There are scenarios where this wouldn’t be true though. For smaller districts a potential for the enrollment of one medically fragile student is very real and can radically change the district finances overnight.
It is unusual for a significant (i guess that depends on your definition of significant) enrollment change in two years. It usually happens over a longer period of time with periods of increase or stability interspersed. But not always.
- Anon221 - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 2:36 pm:
cdog- “Also, any school which has significant lower enrollment in two years, should expect a haircut in how much funding they receive from the state. To think otherwise is nuts.”
Then call me a squirrel. You are basing your theory on one premise. Schools do not operate under one premise. You need to look at the entire picture of why enrollment decreased, it’s effect on the overall per classroom numbers (were they at 30 to begin with, for instance), student needs to succeed (ESL, special education needs, etc.), poverty rates… There may be a “trim” in some funds, but a “haircut” will probably be too extreme.
- wordslinger - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 2:48 pm:
–Rachel DrozeTV@RachelDrozeTV
Rauner did not allow Sen. Bill Brady to answer a reporter question directed at him. Rauner told reporters he would answer the question.–
I guess the help is just there to stand at attention, nod and look adoringly at The Boss.
But the reporter could have said, “Pardon me, I didn’t ask you, governor, I asked Sen. Brady….”
- cdog - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 2:48 pm:
Thank you.
However, to build in per-district numbers regardless of per-student enrollment numbers, is not good stewardship of precious state resources.
The enrollment level is relevant and there should be common sense variables included in any formula that prevent large sums of money being delivered to school districts which are measureably smaller than they were previously.
I think Chicago and CPS play fast and loose with their numbers and reporting of same. Transparency and accuracy seem to be a recurring issue. My same skepticism applies to their enrollment numbers.
- Anon221 - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 3:35 pm:
McCann is voting for the override.
- Oswego Willy - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 5:23 pm:
===…he (Rauner) has first hand knowledge of patronage at CPS. Remember how he clouted his kid into Walter Payton Prep?===
Now that the Clouting has been done and over, where Rauner gamed the system, Rauner claims the system is corrupt because, well, Rauner can’t game it anymore.
Those RaunerS, lol
- Arthur Andersen - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 5:41 pm:
JSMill, thanks for a detailed, point by point takedown of the Dorm Room. I contemplated trying, but likely would have ended up with a deleted comment.
To the Post, I remember back in the Blagojevich days when Filan rolled out a particularly hinky pension “savings plan” and was upbraided by one of the fund heads, who correctly pointed out that he “couldn’t spend the same dollar twice.”
It’s sad to see that Rauner and the BTIA ™ are resorting to Filan’s playbook on such an important subject as education funding.
- JS Mill - Sunday, Aug 13, 17 @ 6:41 pm:
@AA- right back at you sir. I always enjoy your posts even when I disagree, they are lucid, intelligent, and informed.
@cdog- again, the EBM adjusts costs based on need and cost of educations students based on their needs. If we stay status quo with the current formula, I would agree with you more.