State Senator Dale Righter of Illinois’ 55th District has co-sponsored a bill that would fund K-12 education across the state regardless of the lack of a state spending plan. Senate Bill 3434 would increase state funding of education by $227 million and includes a $1.8 million increase for agriculture education.
According to Righter, the bill also seeks to end an unfair distribution of funds that hurts downstate schools. It allows for every school to receive the recommended amount of funding per school at the foundation level of $6,119 per student.
“This legislation is a good solution while we continue to work and debate overhauling the state’s education funding formula,” Righter said. “Unlike other proposals in the General Assembly, this legislation doesn’t bailout the Chicago Public Schools at the detriment of downstate school districts, it doesn’t pick winners and losers, and most importantly, it makes every student a priority and gives much needed certainty to schools that they can open in the fall, even if the state’s budget impasse continues.” Righter said in a press release.
Hear the full interview here!