Illinois State Senator for District 36 Senator Mike Halpin announces that $8.8 million will go to local school districts through evidence-based funding. The funding is a way to help students get the resources they need to make sure they get a good education.
The money can be spent on providing books and materials, teachers' salaries, more support staff, training, and maintenance.
Senator Haplin says that the funding has already been making changes within the education system. “When you look at the full list of school districts and their funding percentages back when we passed this bill compared to today, it's really astounding, and it's been a huge success so far. Our school districts are much better off than they were when I first came into office, and that's something I'm very much proud of.”
Bushnell Prairie City Community, Carbon Cliff-Barstow, Colona, East Moline, Galesburg Community Unit, Hampton, Hancock/ McDonough Regional Office of Education, Knoxville Community Unit, Macomb, Moline Unity, Monmouth Roseville, Orion, Regional Alternative Educational Services, Rock Island, Sherrard Community Unit, Silvis, and United Township High are all of the school districts that are receiving the funding.
The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula. The formula comes from research data that takes into account poverty rates, special needs education, English learners, staff-to-student ratios, and other factors.