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For immediate release
February 3, 2004
State Superintendent presents budget that keeps the lights
on for schools
(SPRINGFIELD) – Downstate schools could see more than
$210 million and the Chicago metropolitan area could net more
than $400 million in additional state funding under the Illinois
State Board of Education’s budget recommendation for
the next school year.
State Superintendent of Schools Robert Schiller Tuesday walked
members of the House Appropriations-Elementary and Secondary
Education Committee through the ISBE proposed Fiscal Year
2005 education budget, stressing that the budget is aimed
at “keeping the doors open and the lights on” at
Illinois’ nearly 4,000 schools.
“Month after month as we crafted this proposal we heard
from members of the education community that the state should
concentrate funding on the areas where districts can get the
best bang for their buck,” Schiller said. “Increased
funding of General State Aid and the mandated categoricals
will allow elected local school boards with the resources
and flexibility to control and address their individual needs.”
Schiller illustrated to members just how far and wide a $616
million general funds increase can be spread over Illinois’
102 counties. ISBE ran projected estimates of how each school
district would fare under the proposed budget, based on their
current Equalized Assessed Value and other factors that affect
the funding formulas.
If effective today, the budget proposal would have the following
impact:
- $169.9 million more for Chicago schools
- $74.3 million more for the districts outside of Chicago
but within Cook County
- $158.1 million in additional funds to the districts inside
the Collar Counties
- $210.8 million to downstate districts
ISBE forecasts that out of the 888 school districts statewide
there are 13 school districts that may not see estimated increases
of GSA funding under the proposal as a result of a large growth
in their local EAV or a large decrease in their average daily
attendance (ADA).
Of the $609 million in additional funds recommended over
FY 04, $576.6 million alone will support adequate basic education
and full funding of programs that the state requires districts
provide. The additional funds will provide a $250 per pupil
increase of general state aid, which equals $396.5 million;
restores the School Safety and Educational Improvement (ADA)
Block Grant to its FY03 level of $66.9 million, an increase
of $24 million; an additional $139.1 million to fully fund
the state Mandated Categorical grants including special education
and transportation; a $13.3 million increase for the Bilingual
program to increase the pro-ration from 64% to approximately
75%.
The proposal also includes restoration of $19 million for
Gifted Education; $30 million for Early Childhood; $23.7 million
for Bridges Extended Learning Opportunities (formerly known
as Summer Bridges); $2.6 million for Reading, $6.2 million
for System of Support, $3 million for Career and Technical
Education, and $4.5 million for Truant and Alternative Learning
Opportunities.
Schiller reminded House members that Moody's Investor Service
recently indicated that the Illinois school district sector
remains challenged with widespread structural imbalances,
declining liquidity and expenditure growth that is outpacing
revenue growth.
Schiller added that more than 99.99% of the $7.6 billion
FY04 education appropriation goes directly to the state's
locally controlled school districts. After continued reduction
of personnel and operations, this proposal includes no increased
administrative costs at the Illinois State Board of Education,
he said.
Schiller also dispelled the “46-cents myth,” noting
that the charge includes the costs related to paying a teacher
and teacher’s aides and some related supplies, but excludes
countless other expenses that support instruction.
“Essentially 46 cents buys a teacher, with an aide waving
a book or two in thin air without a classroom or students,”
Schiller said. “The truth is only six cents covers administration
– not 54.”
An accurate account of school expenditures supporting classroom
instruction is closer to 94 cents and includes, the 48 cents
that pays for the teacher, teacher aide, some classroom supplies
and tuition; 22 cents for the cost of the building and maintaining
the four walls that make up the classroom; 3 cents to feed
the children; 4 cents to bus them to school; 10 cents to support
them with books and libraries to help them to read, counseling,
psychological services, and other direct services that support
and enhance instruction. The charge also excludes debt service
and community services that together add up to a grand total
of 94 cents.
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