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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, In 2013, the Illinois Senate adopted Senate
3Resolution 431, which created the Senate Education Funding
4Advisory Committee; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The purpose of the Senate Education Funding
6Advisory Committee was to propose a State education funding
7system that provides adequate, equitable, transparent, and
8accountable distribution of funds to school districts that will
9prepare students for achievement and success after high school;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, On January 31, 2014, the Senate Education Funding
12Advisory Committee filed its recommendations, which included
13ending the current General State Aid formula and mandating
14categorical funding, and replacing it with a new single
15weighted formula that assigns weighting criteria for students,
16such as low-income, English Language Learner, transportation
17needs, special education, and gifted students; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Senate Bill 16 was amended in April of 2014 to
19include the Senate Education Funding Advisory Committee
20recommendations; a public hearing was held in the Senate and
21the bill was changed significantly to secure passage from the
22Senate; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The bill is now a piecemeal reallocation of State
2tax dollars that will negatively impact hundreds of school
3districts, causing deep budget reductions and financial
4uncertainty; and
 
5    WHEREAS, There is no doubt that education funding reform is
6a priority to ensure all students are academically successful
7and prepared for post-secondary education and the workforce;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, A more equitable and reasonable approach to
10education funding reform must be taken to make certain that a
11comprehensive and meaningful reform is achieved; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Education funding reform deserves thoughtful and
13thorough discussion that includes all education stakeholders,
14parents, teachers, and all members of the General Assembly;
15therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
18we urge the members of this body to cease their efforts to pass
19Senate Bill 16 to make certain that all aspects of the Senate
20Education Funding Advisory Committee report are analyzed and
21discussed thoroughly and publicly by all members of the General

 

 

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1Assembly, taxpayers, parents, and the education community.