LM april 2021 final hi

Series Part XVI

MakingaDifference: WhytheFormula NeedsToBeFunded

ThreeMoreSchoolDistrictsShare HowEBFBenefitsTheirStudents

Macomb CUSD #185

By Jason Nevel IASA Director of Social Media and Publications

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 continue our Making a Difference series with three 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 88 schools we have profiled so far.

Hutsonville CUSD #1

Mount Vernon SD #80

Hutsonville CUSD #1

Enrollment: 306 Type: preK–12

FY18: $88,791 FY19: $32,073

FY20: $38,869 FY21: Flat Funding

“We were making up to $460,000 in cuts during pro-ration of General State Aid,” Superintendent Julie Kraemer said. “We were doing away with positions and not replacing them unless it was a core class. EBF came in and we were no longer bleeding.”

How EBF has made a difference As a result of Evidence-Based Funding, students in Hutsonville CUSD #1 have increased access to music, vocational and family consumer science classes.

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LM April 2021