CHICAGO (AP) - One of the state's top Democrats says an overhaul of the formula Illinois uses to fund public schools should be a top priority this year. Senate President John Cullerton wrote a column criticizing the calculation that appeared in newspapers in Springfield and elsewhere statewide. He's expected to detail his ideas in a Monday speech at the City Club of Chicago. Cullerton writes that the current formula penalizes communities with higher levels of poverty. Illinois' school funding formula hasn't changed since 1997 and there's little disagreement that it needs an overhaul.
However, timing has been an issue and budget gridlock has overshadowed other legislative issues.
Currently, schools receive state aid to offset basic education costs through a formula factoring in poverty. However, districts also get grants based on the number of students in certain programs.