The document discusses the disparities in school funding in Illinois and highlights the need for reform, emphasizing that the state ranks poorly in contributions to K-12 education. It outlines the impact of property taxes on funding differences between wealthier and lower-income districts and suggests potential solutions, such as raising the state's funding foundation and implementing a needs-based funding system. The document also touches on legislative efforts like the SB001 School Funding Reform Act, which fails to address the estimated $5 billion shortfall in education funding.

1. What is the
Metropolitan Community Project?
The Justice Summit: October 11th, 2015

2. What is the
Metropolitan Community Project?

3. What is the
Metropolitan Community Project?

4. What is the
Metropolitan Community Project?

5. Illinois State Constitution
• A fundamental goal of the People of the State is
the educational development of all persons to the
limits of their capacities.
• The State shall provide for an efficient system of
high quality public educational institutions and
services.
• The State has the primary responsibility for
financing the system of public education.

6. How are Illinois schools funded?

7. School Spending
per student, per year
New Trier
Township H.S.
$21,372
CPS
high schools
$13,791

11. Courses /
Academic Programs /
Extracurriculars
What do the differences in school funding mean?

12. Strong Teaching /
Leadership /
Support Staff /
Services
What do the differences in school funding mean?

13. What do the differences in school funding mean?
School facilities:
Physical environment /
Type and design
of facilities

14. What do the differences in school funding mean?
Technology /
Instructional materials

15. Where does the money come from?

16. So how do we end up with these
extreme differences in school funding?
Property Taxes

19. Winnetka
● Higher property values
● More $ raised through
school property taxes.
Logan Square
● Lower property values
● Less $ raised through
school property taxes.

20. Lower-income areas often have
higher school property tax rates,
but less school funding.
New Trier
H.S. District
1.67%
school
tax rate
/ $100
Chicago
Public Schools
2.58%
school
tax rate
/ $100

21. Illinois Ranks Near the Bottom
(47th place) in STATE Contribution
to K-12 Public Education Funding

22. • Illinois sets a “foundation level” for
school funding.
• The state guarantees that a school’s
funds will not fall below this level…
Guess how much it is?

23. $6,119
Remember that New Trier spends
over $21,000 per student per year

24. What could fix disparities in school funding?
Some ideas…
• Raise the state’s foundation level for
school funding
• Make school funding less reliant on
property taxes
• Implement a progressive state income tax
• Implement a “needs-based” funding
system

25. Who could fix disparities in school funding?

26. Who could fix disparities in school funding?
The State Legislature

27. SB001: School Funding Reform Act 2015
No additional state money for education
• Illinois ranks 47 out of 50 in the portion of
education funded by the state
• Estimated $5 billion short in adequate
education funding
• SB1 does nothing to address this shortfall

28. What we can do
to influence the debate
• Create a “student-based” funding bill
based on actual student needs
• Design and advocate for an Illinois
“Student Bill of Rights”

32. 159%