Feb2020LMhi

Series Part XIV

MakingaDifference: ANewYear,More Progress

CCSD #168–Sauk Village

FiveMoreSchoolDistrictsShare HowEBFBenefitsTheirStudents

Casey-Westfield CUSD #4C

By Jason Nevel IASA Director of Social Media and Publications

Wesclin CUSD #3

Fairfield PSD #112

In August 2018, we launched our Making a Difference series to better understand how Evidence-Based Funding is helping Illinois students. We profiled 50 school districts and one thing was abundantly clear from our conversations with superintendents. The state’s investment into public education is making a difference. STEM programs were created, social workers and counselors hired, class sizes reduced, electives restored and student safety improved, all as a result of just two years of additional state funding.

Herrin CUSD #4

This month, we continue our series on how school districts across the state are using Evidence-Based Funding dollars to improve student outcomes. The series this time around, however, has a new wrinkle. In addition to learning how the dollars have already made a difference, superintendents share what continued support of the Evidence-Based Funding Formula would mean for their school districts going forward. Telling these stories is important as IASA continues to advocate for the EBF formula to be properly funded over time. You can also find an interactive map on our website with the stories of all 75 schools we have profiled so far.

adding back positions and providing our students with the support they need.” Other improvements include increasing the district’s industrial technology program to full-time at the Jr/Sr High School, replacing a retiring speech language pathologist, adding a social worker and partnering with the city to add a school resource officer. Adding a social-worker to address the social-emotional needs of students was critical. “The mental health needs everywhere across the state have exploded and we saw that in our district,” Scott said. Overall, the increase in state funding provided the district with much-needed financial stability. Having that confidence made it possible for the district to add back transportation service

Casey-Westfield CUSD #4C

Enrollment: 933 FY18: $268,468 FY20: $126,295 Type: preK–12 FY19: $170,801 How EBF has made a difference The passage of EBF lifted Casey-Westfield CUSD #4C out of survival mode. Two elementary teachers were added to reduce classroom sizes, which were as high as 31. In addition, the district hired two special education teachers to help students with learning disabilities and students in need of additional social- emotional support. “It’s been so huge for our kids,” said Superintendent Dee Scott. “We were in the mode of cut, cut, cut, and now we’re

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LM February 2020