LM March 2021_lg

Series Part XV

MakingaDifference: WhytheFormula NeedsToBeFunded

Dolton SD #148

Morris SD #54

FiveMoreSchoolDistrictsShare HowEBFBenefitsTheirStudents By Jason Nevel IASA Director of Social Media and Publications

Lincoln CHSD #404

Danville CCSD #118

Hardin County CUSD #1 In August 2018, IASA launched the Making a Difference series to better understand how Evidence-Based Funding is helping Illinois students. Between August 2018 and March 2020, we profiled 80 school districts. One thing was abundantly clear from our conversations with superintendents—the dollars have made an impact. STEM programs were created, social workers and counselors hired, class sizes reduced, electives restored, learning opportunities were expanded and student safety improved, all as a result of the state’s investment into public education. For the second straight year, Gov. JB Pritzker has proposed a spending plan that does not include any additional state dollars into the Evidence-Based Funding Formula. We know not investing in EBF will push districts further away from their adequacy targets and make it harder for schools to provide additional academic and social-emotional support for students. This month, we restart our Making a Difference series with five more stories on how the dollars are improving student outcomes. 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 85 schools we have profiled so far.

University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute study as the least healthy county in the state of Illinois. “The need here is huge, and we felt the need to step up,” Geddis said. “Our district is now the second largest health services provider in our county, only trailing the veterans hospital.” The additional funding allowed Danville CCSD #118 to develop numerous partnerships with local and statewide providers. The services include child psychologists, substance abuse counseling and mental health services. In addition, EBF made it possible for the district to hire numerous home-program intervention coordinators that perform much- needed wellness checks on students and families. “The additional support really is a game changer for our students and families,” Geddis said.

Danville CCSD #118

Enrollment: 5,363 FY18: $2 million

FY20: $1.1 million

Type: preK–12

FY19: $1.2 million FY21: Flat Funding

How EBF has made a difference The state’s investment into Evidence Based Funding allowed Danville CCSD #118 to greatly expand social-emotional supports and offer summer school at an elementary school that serves the district’s neediest students. Dr. Alicia Geddis said the district needed to rethink school and seek new ways to support students in response to extensive needs in the community. Danville CCSD #118 is located in Vermillion County, which was ranked by a 2019

22 LM March 2021