The Illinois House Speaker wants to change the state constitution so it requires the state foot the bill for the majority of school funding. But he got some pushback from House Republicans at a Monday hearing over the potential cost.
The constitution currently says the state has the "primary responsibility" to fund early education through high school. But... courts have ruled it's a goal...not a mandate. Property taxes pay for most of the public school funding while the state covers about a third of the total.
Madigan says he wants to change the wording so it says education is a fundamental right and it's the duty of the state to provide it.
"If approved by the voters, the state would be required to fund 51 percent of the cost of education," Madigan said.
Republicans like Representative Jeanne Ives of Wheaton says the state would have to come up with billions more to put into education. A committee sent the plan to the full House.
If the General Assembly agrees to put it on the ballot this fall, 60 percent of voters would need to go along for the change to occur.