Rauner names Kay, others to commission on school finance reform

Gov. Bruce Rauner has announced a commission to help overhaul Illinois' outdated school funding formula, which will include state Rep. Dwight Kay.

Rauner told reporters Tuesday the bipartisan Illinois School Funding Reform Commission of 25 people will study the issue and give their recommendations to his office and the General Assembly by Feb. 1.

“Education is the most important thing we do as a society, but Illinois has failed to adequately and equitably fund schools for years,” Rauner said. “We should put more money into our schools and focus resources to the students that need them the most. Today we are ensuring the bipartisan momentum to reform our school funding formula does not fade away.”

Rauner says commission members will be chosen by him and the four legislative leaders. Initial appointees include Republican Sen. Jason Barickman and Democrats Sen. Andy Manar and House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie. Secretary of Education Beth Purvis will chair the commission.

“Ensuring our schools are properly funded in an adequate and equitable way will only improve outcomes for Illinois children,” Secretary Purvis said. “I'm honored to chair this Commission and join legislators who are equally as motivated to find a solution to make our school funding formula more equitable.”

Also among the initial appointees: state Rep. Dwight Kay (R-Glen Carbon). “Every student should receive the same opportunity as the next,” Kay said. “I am thrilled the governor created this bipartisan commission to bring different ideas to the forefront in order to reach one common goal – fully funding our schools adequately and equitably.”

The complicated way that Illinois uses to determine how much money schools receive has long been contentious. In recent months, the state Senate approved a plan to change the funding formula for Illinois schools that would shift more state funding to districts with lower property values. Advocates said it would have helped to rectify funding inequality between rich and poor districts; opponents said it was a bailout for Chicago schools. It did not reach a vote in the state House.

One thing both sides mostly agreed upon: the current formula is deeply flawed. The formula was last changed in 1997.

“No funding formula should put any student at a disadvantage,” Kay said. “The current school funding formula is archaic and in need of an overhaul. This is a great opportunity to be a part of the solution, not the problem.”

Rauner wouldn't specify what he thinks the commission should pursue, saying all options are on the table.

This story was originally published July 12, 2016 at 4:13 PM with the headline "Rauner names Kay, others to commission on school finance reform."