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School funding commission produces “framework,” leaves lots of questions

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Illinois

* Not a bill yet, just a “framework”…

Governor Bruce Rauner’s Illinois School Funding Reform Commission today approved a framework that allows members of the General Assembly to create a new school funding formula.

“Illinois is another step closer to fixing our broken school funding system,” Governor Rauner said. “I applaud the Commission members for putting politics aside to advance a bipartisan framework that can serve as an immediate roadmap for legislation. The framework ensures all public school children in Illinois receive equitable funding, no matter where they live. We look forward to working with members of the General Assembly to quickly resolve the outstanding issues identified in the report with the hope of enacting a bipartisan school funding reform package as soon as possible.”

The 25 commission members, comprised of five members from each party in each chamber and five members appointed by the Governor, met for over 75 hours in the last six months to reform the school funding formula. The framework will better focus resources on the needs of the students and districts. Through this framework, new funding will first go to schools who are farthest away from their adequacy targets, serving the most vulnerable students. This measure will address inequity within districts, not just among districts, and also ensure all public school children, including those who attend charter schools, receive equitable treatment.

“This has been a robust, bipartisan and bicameral process,” said Illinois Secretary of Education Dr. Beth Purvis. “I am incredibly thankful that these really dedicated members of the General Assembly and the Governor’s appointees were able to come and have substantive conversations in which children were at the center of the decision-making.”

* That’s some flowery language, but in the “final report,” we get stuff like this…

Three mechanisms have been discussed that could be used to increase funding to districts with high concentrations of poverty. First, elements could provide increased funding for low-income students and students living in concentrated poverty. Second, using enrollment instead of average daily attendance may increase funding to schools with large low-income student populations or populations of students in concentrated poverty. Third, the distribution formula could direct additional funds to districts based on poverty concentration. In addition, funding alone is unlikely to be sufficient to close the gap; new service delivery approaches will also be needed. ISBE is working to build a model in which the separate and cumulative effect of these factors can be assessed so as to best ensure that this point of consensus is reflected accurately in the data.

So, no consensus apparently on how to distribute funds, which was kind of the point.

* And this…

Elements will be written into statute; however, it is important to the members of the Commission that there be flexibility in their implementation so that districts can implement strategies that will lead to the best academic and socio-emotional outcomes for their students. Within three years of the initial implementation, ISBE should suggest changes, if warranted.

* Now, on to the big question:Money…

At the time of writing this report, the amount of additional state money needed for all districts in Illinois to be at or above their adequacy target is estimated to be a minimum of $3.5 billion over the next decade. It should be noted that this figure makes several assumptions and will fluctuate over time as adequacy targets and local capacity change. In fact, for the state to take an increasingly larger share of responsibility for education funding (e.g., 51%), this figure is projected to rise by at least $2.5 billion. However, how the rate at which we achieve that goal has not been decided. Furthermore, this figure does not account for additional capital needs of the districts.

* And a punt on consolidation…

Commissioners agree that consolidation in certain areas of the state is important but that the solution to this problem should not be reached through funding formula reform.

There was also no consensus on mandate relief and private school tax credits.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:00 pm

Comments

That would be an “F”

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:02 pm
This turned out to be a chance for the Governor to applaud himself, missing the consolidation, concencus, a funding apparatus and legislation.

Isn’t this what Candidate Rauner would call the Status Quo?

Yikes.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:06 pm
If we exclude collective bargaining and prevailing wage - has anyone ever produced a list that connects specific unfunded mandates with actual dollar costs?

If yes, is there a convenient, easy to access and easy to read summary?

Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:07 pm
Just to be clear. .. there is nothing here that can be used for a solution? But some framework? So now that the meeting for the meeting took place, when does the MEETING take place? What is equality sad and funny… they released this. To the public….they released it seriously and not on April 1st.

Comment by Echo The Bunnyman Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:25 pm
Six months and back to square one.
These Rauner people are really onto something

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:26 pm
They did a great job identifying the problems while giving no solutions. What I gleamed from this as a suburban hillbilly with some knowledge of education is that they may or may not keep a hold harmless permanent and they think a Pension shift is something that should be considered. Non-starters in the collars.

Comment by Suburban Hillbilly Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:31 pm
Report, meet shelf…

Comment by cover Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:32 pm
This is embarrassing for all involved. All should be embarrassed if there name is on it… I’m sure it was 3 conference calls and someone took these notes.

Comment by Echo The Bunnyman Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:33 pm
Suburban… the issues they laid out… were the issues when they began. They just took 6 months to release what they started with. It’s really pathetic and funny.

Comment by Echo The Bunnyman Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:35 pm
…said Illinois Secretary of Education Dr. Beth Purvis… I was unaware Betsy DeVos had been replaced by President Trump. /s

Comment by don the legend Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:39 pm
This report is as useful and will have as much effect as the 1970 Springfield Railroad Relocation Authority report did …

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:40 pm
I believe that sets a new record for most mentions/iterations of the phrase “poverty concentration” in one paragraph.

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:41 pm
- Echo - First, great name. Second, they actually met dozens of times and really got deep into the weeds on this stuff. But I’m with you. This report is a bunch of nothing — basically restating the obvious.

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:43 pm
have any friends in Colorado or Arizona? those states seem most likely to have a Republican US Senator who will vote no on De Vos
nomination. Two Rs have already declared to vote no, Collins of Maine and Murkowski of Alaska. that means that currently a tie would have to be broken by VP Pence. That nomination will affect schools in Illinois. Need another nominee, one who knows things about schools. De Vos could not answer questions about schools and disabled, especially offensive to Sen. Hassan who has a disabled child. the schools problem here will only get worse with a super bad person in charge of the Dept. of Education.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:47 pm
No wonder Senator Manar became frustrated with this group and spoke out about the lack of progress in resolving anything. Just another report with no bill.

Comment by Tough Guy Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:47 pm
Roman… thanks… if they met dozens of times and this is the result… we deserve the credit downgrade. Yes, there is poverty in many areas of the state. We are aware. So what are they going to do about education? My guess is. We become so insolvent. We petition the US Supreme Court to change pension obligations. Sorry. I’m done. My tin foil hat is slipping off.

Comment by Echo The Bunnyman Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 3:49 pm
Amelia… let’s use this report and every other report from ISBE… It’s always education is local… how about Trump eliminates Department of education. We eliminate ISBE. Send funds to districts directly. We have ROE’s ISBE… they all say local control is best. We are in drastic times. How about some real and drastic solutions.

Comment by Echo the Bunnyman Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 4:01 pm
Echo: what did you expect them to conclude, that it’s heaven up here?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 4:06 pm
“Commissioners agree that consolidation in certain areas of the state is important but that the solution to this problem should not be reached through funding formula reform.”

Wrong! Government consolidation does not happen as long as the status quo at least minimally defensible. It only happens when the cost of fragmentation becomes unsustainable. So if there is going to be consolidation of school districts, we have to cut the money which sustains the fragmentation.

Consolidation of the 860 separate school districts into about 60 or so unit districts is obviously sensible, and it’s not going to happen until we stop feeding the beast(s).

Comment by Anon III Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 4:13 pm
I didn’t expect them to write down the issues listed going in and rewrite the issues and offer nothing. Sorry. It is Illinois. I should know better.

Comment by Echo The Bunnyman Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 4:14 pm
It’s like that LifeLock commercial.
Dental Monitor: Yep, you have a cavity. Well, time for golf.
Patient: Aren’t you going to fix my cavity?
Dental Monitor: No, I’m just a dental monitor. You need a dentist to fix the cavity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8piX3PCsx4

Comment by SAP Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 4:21 pm
Remember when the Feds formed the military base closing commission to relieve Congress of the difficult job of actually choosing which basis to shut?

Imagine if that commission just issued a report stating “this process is complicated, but necessary” and didn’t actually close a single base.

That’s essentially what the governor’s commission just did. At least Beth Purvis won’t have to make any plans for the “Profile in Courage” award ceremony.

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 4:25 pm
What a joke. This report shows that none of them have any guts. Manar is the only one with guts. I can’t believe he sat patiently through that mess while the Commission talked themselves in circles.

Comment by Nickki Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 4:30 pm
This comes as no surprise. Very underwhelming to say the least. My understanding is that the discussion of the evidence based model (EBM) led to a discussion on how to change the assumptions (moving away from research) to make it cheaper.

They didn’t have to fully fund the EBM, partial funding would have been “ok” and would have simply led to a change in expected outcomes.

In the end, the superstars turned out to be barely a sparkler on this issue.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 4:52 pm
So bail out CPS intact check, punish schools with good enrollment and a positive balance sheet check, redistribute funding from Suburbia to CPS and downstate check check.

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 4:55 pm
@NorthsideNoMore- you may want to rethink your conclusion. It isn’t a “downstate” bail out. Far from it. It will drive money away to high poverty concentration schools and away from others. Rural downstate schools are not all high poverty concentration schools. The majority (70%) are more commonly “middle class”, not wealthy, not high poverty.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 5:47 pm
sure total local control for schools, for everything! let’s start with the military, you know, cause militias can do it all, send us back our military money. ridiculous/

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 5:49 pm
RNUG, lol!
You and I are probably the only folks on the blog that remember that one. I used it as a source on a research project in grad school arguing against giving the C-U Mass Transit District more money to build a palatial bus station.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 6:28 pm
Echo - How will you determine how much funding to send to each district without staff at ISBE to perform the calculations? GSA and MCATs don’t calculate themselves. Unless you are going to just block grant the dollars based on head count (which is not a good idea and what funding reform efforts are trying to move away from) you need someone to perform the calculations. I’m all for change, but you do need employees to calculate grant amounts and to explain those calculations to district personnel and members of the GA.

Comment by Jimjams Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 6:44 pm
It recommends moving to an integrated funding formula and having differentiated adequacy targets for every district based on their specific demographics. That is actually a big deal.

Comment by J Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 8:50 pm
Jim Jams…. I was being a bit playful by saying eliminating. But there is some seriousness to that. ISBE is a shell of what it was just 10 years ago. To continue the mandates with no money or staff. It’s grown tiresome. If you want to keep ISBE. Get rid of ROE’s. Have ISBE be enforcement and fiscal duties. Neither organization now is equipped. Consolidation of something for goodness sakes. 800 plus districts. So new trier can’t be a k-12 like Naperville? No money saved by one Superintendent? Curriculum isn’t aligned seamlessly. Every time consolidation is mentioned how it doesn’t work just bases it on the studies that have a district in the red with black. Start with the financially sound districts.

Comment by Echo the Bunnyman Wednesday, Feb 1, 17 @ 9:27 pm
Arthur Anderson–

As you’ve probably seen when you bring the Anderson princesses to school, the C-U MTD not only got the $$$ they desired, they are now purchasing across the tracks from that terminal and rumbling to build another terminal of similar size in downtown Urbana. C’est plus change?

Comment by Lynn S. Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 3:07 am
Let me explain how the funding proposal’s cost dropped from an estimated $5 billion over FY 16 k-12 expenditures for full adequate funding to the amount Rich notes of $2.5 billion a year in one month. In the original Evidence Based Model the student teacher ratio for adequacy was 15 to 1 in grades k-12, in the model finalized it became 15 to 1 in grades k-3 and in grades 4-12 25 to 1.

Comment by Rod Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 7:00 am