Funding Crunch

As the Chicago Sun Times put it today, 'state lawmakers have a long history of penalizing poor kids (not only within CPS but any area of poverty) Illinois with a school funding formula that shortchanges kids living in poverty.'

This is not merely an editorial making this claim, it is widely accepted as fact. Indeed, this spring the Chicago Tribune reported that 'poor students receive $0.81 for every dollar spent on their wealthier counterparts.' In other words, those students and schools who are in most need of assistance receive, proportionately, less than schools who are in better shape financially.

To be clear, I'm not expert on the funding formula and other issues regarding money provided by the state to the various districts. I do know that the funding formula has nothing to do with paying towards pension funds. The funding formula is a separate issue.

I know that if the formula changes to help the most vulnerable, the wealthier school districts will cry foul. In my view, it is time to bring some justice to the issue of the funding formula. Why, because we can't afford to let the kids down.

Dick