Illinois' school funding formula is reliant on the property tax. That works well for districts where property values are high. Not so much in poorer areas.
State Senator Andy Manar is leading an effort to share the wealth. The Bunker Hill Democrat wants to shift more money to schools where poverty is greater. But he's facing opposition from those in areas where schools would have funding cut, particularly some Chicago suburbs.
“But what we have to balance that against is we have districts in all parts of the state, not just in some parts of the state, where there isn't a single art teacher. Not a single art teacher. There could be a child that enrolls in the Mulberry Grove School District in kindergarten and when they graduate as a senior, they will have never taken an art class. That's unacceptable, " said Manar.
Manar said legislators could debate the issue during this fall's veto session.