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Press release: Statewide series of town halls to address school funding reform

CHICAGO (April 17, 2017) – Education stakeholders are coming together for regional town hall conversations across the state this week as momentum builds toward passing school funding reform legislation this spring. Superintendents, teachers and families are saying their students cannot wait any longer for a fix to Illinois’ funding system—the most unfair funding system in the nation according to The Education Trust. The town halls will include remarks from superintendents, legislators and policy experts and an opportunity for audience Q&A.Currently, Illinois’ funding formula is inequitable, spending just 81 cents on a low-income student for every dollar it spends on a non-low-income student. One proposed funding bill, HB2808, fixes Illinois’ 20-year-old funding system and provides a fair solution for all students. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Will Davis, passed the House Appropriations Committee in early April with bipartisan support. It presents an evidence-based funding model that ensures no school district loses money, neediest districts receive new funding first, takes local resources into account, and closes funding gaps between low-income and wealthier districts and keeps them closed over time.

Schedule:

Quincy Town Hall
April 17, 1-3 p.m.
Quincy School Board District Office Rm 214
1416 Maine Street, Quincy, IL 62301

U-46 Town Hall
April 17, 7-9 p.m.
Elgin High School
1200 Maroon Drive, Elgin, IL 60120

Aurora Town Hall
April 18, 5-7 p.m.
Herget Middle School
1550 Deerpath Road, Aurora, IL 60506

Berwyn Town Hall
April 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Havlicek Elementary School
6401 W. 15th St., Berwyn, IL 60402

Crab Orchard Town Hall
April 19, 10 a.m.
Crab Orchard CUSD #319189
Cory Bailey StreetMarion, IL 62959

Quad Cities Town Hall
April 20, 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Bowelburg Elementary School
2221 10th St., Silvis, IL 61282

Illinois Leadership for Educational Equity Legislator Forum (Chicago)
April 20, 6-8 p.m.
Chicago Theological Seminary
1407 E. 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637

About Fix the Formula Illinois

Fix the Formula Illinois is a campaign of Advance Illinois, Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, Educators 4 Excellence, Equity First, Funding Illinois’ Future, High School District Organizations of Illinois, Illinois Association of School Administrators, Illinois Association of School Business Officials, Illinois Principals Association, League of United Latin American Citizens, Teach Plus Illinois and Vision 20/20.

Follow #fixtheformula on Twitter or visit www.fundingilfuture.org to receive updates about the campaign.

Contacts:
Bob Dolgan, bdolgan@advanceillinois.org, 773-447-1980
Anna Schneider, aschneider@advanceillinois.org, 217-242-9645

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