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Rauner Signs School Funding Fix

Governor Bruce Rauner has signed what education officials say is the final law needed to make major changes to the way Illinois funds public schools.

The big bipartisan overhaul was signed into law last summer. But as sometimes happens with major legislation, the government officials whose job is to implement it came back to lawmakers saying mistakes were made, and no new money would flow without a legislative fix.

State Senator Andy Manar, the central Illinois Democrat who sponsored the legislation, blames that partly on ...

“The complicated nature of school funding reform —  that’s apparent by the fact that the legislature currently and previous legislators and governors have struggled with the issue for decades."

Manar says the governor's signature means Illinois schools with the highest need will be first in line for funding.
 

Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.