Senator Nybo plan would fully fund schools for first time in seven years

SPRINGFIELD – Parents and students would be assured that schools will open on time in the fall, under legislation cosponsored by State Sen. Chris Nybo (R-Elmhurst) that would provide schools with full state funding for the first time in seven years.

“Our schools are among our communities’ strongest assets and should not be kept waiting for the ongoing budget impasse to be resolved,” Nybo said. “We are providing them with resources they need to open their doors this fall. In fact, all schools would receive all the money promised to them by the state.”

Senate Bill 3434 would fully fund the General State Aid formula for the first time in seven years. It also increases state funding for K-12 education by $227 million.

“Our plan allows our schools to budget right now for the coming year without having to worry about making major cuts to programs. Our plan gives us time to work on a long-term, bipartisan solution to reform the way our state funds schools. Our children are too important to do otherwise,” Nybo said.

Senate Bill 3434 ensures every school district will not lose money next school year, compared to what they received during their 2015-2016 school year. The hold-harmless provision helps school districts that will see a drop in enrollment by keeping their funding level.

“Compare this plan to other proposals that would divert hundreds of millions in state dollars from suburban and downstate schools to help bail out Chicago schools for years of bad decisions,” Nybo said. “One of those other proposals would take more than $43.7 million in state aid from 19 suburban school districts every year.”