Senate Democrats are taking another bite at the school funding apple. Senator Andy Manar, a Democrat from Bunker Hill, has tried for years to get Illinois to send more money to poor districts. Until now that has meant taking money from wealthier ones.
Manar's latest plan would still do that, but gradually. Next year, no district would lose state money. Manar says his plan eliminates special deals, so all school funding is distributed fairly.
"We have dozens of formulas that distribute money in dozens of different ways. And we are saying we should have one formula that drives resources as a priority to districts with high rates of poverty and high need."
But Republicans were quick to nix his idea. Right away they characterized it as a "bailout" of Chicago Public Schools.
CPS is the only district in the state that doesn't receive state help paying for teacher pensions. Under this plan, the state would take on that cost. The proposal also eliminates a large grant only Chicago receives.
