Today, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (CTBA) released a report, Fully Funding the Evidence-Based Formula: Four Scenarios, which shows that, even if Illinois annually increases school funding up to the full $350 million minimum established under the Evidence-Based Funding for Student Success Act, or EBF, it would take over 30 years to fund all schools to the levels which the evidence indicates is needed, on a fully inflation-adjusted basis.
After decades of failing its children, particularly children of color and children in low-income communities, Illinois finally has a school funding formula designed both to close the state’s historic income- and race-based funding gaps, and ultimately to provide every school district the resources which the evidence shows is required for all students to succeed academically. The EBF accomplishes this by:
* first identifying an unique “Adequacy Target” of funding for each school district-which represents the amount the research indicates that school district needs to provide an adequate level of education to the students it serves; and then
* distributing most of the new funding Illinois invests in education to those districts furthest from their respective Adequacy Targets.
Unfortunately, according to the Illinois State Board of Education, the state’s FY 2019 appropriation for K-12 education is $7.35 billion short of what the evidence shows is needed to fund every school district in the state up to its full Adequacy Target.
“The report illustrates that an extraordinary funding effort is necessary to move Illinois’ children to adequacy,” State Representative Will Davis said. “If we believe in what we seek to accomplish, additional resources are necessary.”
As it stands now, the EBF only requires the state to increase funding for K-12 education by a minimum amount which ranges from $300 million to $350 million annually. The EBF also commits the state to funding the formula fully by June 30, 2027. However, if the annual, year-to-year increase in school funding is capped at $350 million, it would take 31 years, or until 2051, to cover the current $7.35 billion shortfall on a fully inflation-adjusted basis.
CTBA’s report details the following different funding scenarios for the EBF, which vary by timeline:
* If Illinois were to increase K-12 appropriations by a flat $350 million each year, it would take approximately 31 years to fund the EBF fully after adjusting for inflation.
* To fund the EBF on a fully inflation-adjusted basis in 10 years as required by statute, Illinois would have to increase K-12 funding by $779 million annually, or slightly more than double the minimum currently established by law.
* To fund the EBF fully in 5 years, Illinois would have to increase K-12 funding by $1.58 billion each year.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 11:31 am:
The think tank that numbers Mike Carrigan and Dan Montgomery among its board members thinks Illinois needs to spend more. You could knock me over with a feather.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 11:52 am:
With all of Illinois’ debt problems, the state can not afford to spend more.
- Shrimp gumbo - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 11:59 am:
Soon, when nature finishes reclaiming our roads, we won’t need any schools… Or anything else. Problem solved.
- Perrid - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 12:02 pm:
They think the need is triple what the legislators (and the experts that worked with them) thought it was a few years ago? What the heck?
- JIbba - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 12:04 pm:
31 years? Ok. It is going to take 25 years to pay off the pension debt. Everything will take time, given our financial position.
Haven’t any of these people ever been in debt before? Digging out is hard, but slow and steady is the only way, since the jar of magic beans is empty.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 12:04 pm:
The need has to be legit,after all, its evidence based.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 12:10 pm:
The solution is clear: Re-amortize the evidence-based formula and lower the adequacy target to 70%.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 12:15 pm:
I thought I read some presidential candidate was proposing a $13,500/yr federal raise to teachers nationwide. Sounds great, but made me wonder what the benefits costs would be to the state and local school districts. I know this isn’t necessarily figured in this post, but makes me wonder if it will ever end.
- Montrose - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 12:22 pm:
What JIbba said. If we can find a way to reduce that 31 ramp up, great, but the reality is that it is going to take awhile. I’m more worried about us moving backwards.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 12:25 pm:
BDD - Under Harris’ proposal, the Feds would provide 3-to-1 matching funds to states.
I’m not quite sure how the EBF works, but I thought it was geared towards providing more resources to children (art, music, computers, etc) to students of need, not necessarily paying the same teachers more.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 1:23 pm:
…we’re gonna need a bigger boat. Afraid that ship may have already set sail.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 1:25 pm:
Bigger boat is kind of an understatement. More like we’re gonna need a bigger ocean or bigger universe. What funding source could even increase by $700 million every year? Say for example you just make everyone in the state pay $100 to cover the increase. At the end of 10 years everyone would be paying $1,000 a year.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 3:35 pm:
We may need a different boat. CPS and Naperville spend roughly equal amounts per student. Outcomes not similar.
Medicine has provided the physician with a team of supporting staff. Maybe teaching needs a similar model.
- Right Field - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 4:17 pm:
Cue the “Fairer Tax” rollout… to be followed by the “Even More Fair” tax. Because… Illinois.
- Chicagonk - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 4:36 pm:
@CZ - OK that was funny. Who needs a bigger boat when all you need is a longer ramp.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 5:29 pm:
Does the CTBA offer certifications in Goalpost Movement?
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Thursday, Mar 28, 19 @ 10:21 am:
Let’s remember that CTBA is a union backed group and when was the last time any of the Teachers unions said Illinois is providing enough money? As I’ve said before most districts don’t need significantly more money. What they need is ability to have a unified budget and relief from legislative vanity education bills that take time and money. Plus, if you really want to make a difference break up CPS, get elected school boards, have them sell unused property and get their fiscal house in order.