Peoria Public School board members this morning were joined by political leaders, educators and parents advocating for a change to Illinois’ school funding formula.
District 150 Superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat says changing the formula to support financially struggling districts, like Peoria, would have profound effects on the community’s economic situation, and would narrow the gap in employment and income.
“It is definitely a huge game-changer, when you look in terms of quality of living, it’s so aligned and so dependent on the quality of education received,” Desmoulin-Kherat said.
The state’s current funding formula is based on property taxes. So school districts in wealthier areas receive more funding than schools in poorer areas. Kherat says more than 200 superintendents, principals and educators across the state are in support of legislation to change the 20-year old funding formula.
Kherat was joined by Democratic Sen. David Koehler and Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) at Manual Academy Fri.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner says changing the formula is a ploy to bail out Chicago Public Schools. Instead, Rauner's supporting a measure that would increase funding to all Illinois school districts.
More than 75-percent of the students in Peoria Public Schools are considered low income. Neighboring districts, Dunlap, Morton and Washington all have 20 percent or fewer low income students.