Republicans, Rauner pick up Democrats’ slack, push bill over the finish line

Governor Bruce Rauner vowed to quickly sign the compromise school funding bill passed yesterday in the Illinois Senate. The bill brings historic education reform to Illinois, including our state’s first-ever school choice scholarship program to provide children in need with a true choice in education.

Gov. Rauner and Republican lawmakers picked up the Democrats’ slack, delivering nearly as many votes as Democrats in the House despite having sixteen fewer members.

Take a look at some of the coverage:
State Journal-Register: Rauner visits schools to celebrate funding compromise

“This is a wonderful day,” said Rauner, joined by some legislators. “And tomorrow, we’re going to sign this new law that says from now on, we’re going to fund our schools fairly, and the same for all kids, regardless of where they live, regardless of how much money their parents have. It’s a really big day and it’s a very historic time for Illinois.”

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“This is a compromise,” Rauner told reporters, explaining his support. He added that it “reflects many of the goals that I have recommended,” including creating of a commission to analyze the tax increment financing districts and their “excessive use that diverts money from our schools and our teachers.”
Politico: Illinois overhauls system for funding public schools

“For far too long, too many low-income students in our state have been trapped in underfunded, failing schools,” the governor said in a statement. “The system needed to change. We have changed it. We have put aside our differences and put our kids first. It’s a historic day for Illinois.”

“Our leaders worked together to provide school-choice protection for parents who want the best education possible for their children,” Rauner said. “This is accomplished by ensuring that district-authorized charter schools receive equal funding, and by providing families with limited financial resources the same access to private schools. The Tax Credit Scholarship program encourages individuals and businesses to enable families to choose the school that best meets the needs of their children.”

Herald Whig: Local school officials pleased money is coming

“We’re very happy about the funding formula that was passed. It’s the most fair system the state of Illinois has had in the last 30 years,” Webb said. “It’s going to work real well for QPS.”

Pikeland Superintendent Paula Hawley called it “a step in the right direction for how schools are funded in Illinois.”

The Senate voted 38-13 to send the measure to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who has said he’ll sign it quickly to get money to districts starting a new school year.

Rauner’s signature should clear the way for the state to make payments to school districts that already have been allocated. Those general state aid payments — $1 million per month for QPS and about $400,000 a month for Pikeland — were missed for the first time ever in August while legislators worked on a compromise.

WTTW: ‘Historic’ Education Funding Bill Heads to Gov. Rauner

In exchange, Republicans say schools will better be able to save money through a streamlined process of getting a reprieve from state mandates.

Furthermore, Rauner, an advocate of school choice, can declare a win with the establishment of a fund that will give an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 low-income children scholarships to attend private school, to be paid for by private donations in exchange for state tax credits up to $100 million.

Chicago Tribune: Two million reasons to vote ‘yes’

The proposal would fund schools for the current fiscal year. It would pump additional money to schools through a new mathematical formula. It would create a program for low- and middle-income families to access privately-raised donations for tuition scholarships. Those key components present a trifecta of opportunity for the state’s 2 million public school children. In other words, 2 million reasons for lawmakers to vote “yes.”

Voting against the proposal would be a vote for the status quo: No additional money for schools. No relaxation of reliance on property taxes. No escape route for kids trapped in poorly-performing schools.
Chicago Sun-Times: Education bill heads to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk after Senate passage

The Illinois Senate on Tuesday approved a “compromise” school funding bill in what’s being called a historic move towards reforming the way the state funds public education.

But it was the inclusion of a private school scholarship and tax credit program within the deal that took up most of the debate — both on the House floor on Monday and the Senate floor on Tuesday. Gov. Bruce Rauner will sign the measure on Thursday, according to his office.

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