Illinois lawmakers return to work this week, and one of the decisions they face is whether to pass a school funding reform plan.
David Ardrey, executive director of the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools, says it’s important to keep the issue in the forefront until the state’s school funding system is changed.
“I don’t think this conversation is going to go away,” Ardrey said. “Will it pass this year? I don’t know. Will it pass in this state some day? I think it will.”
The school funding reform proposal is Senate Bill 1 because the Senate Democratic Caucus chose it to be the first bill filed in this session.
Bill sponsor Andy Manar says that shows lawmakers feel it’s important to reform the way public schools are funded.
A similar bill passed the Senate last year but did not get called for a vote in the House. The proposal has been revised to broaden its appeal and reintroduced.
