The Illinois State Board of Education is urging community members to provide input into the state’s current funding formula and what education needs should be given a priority for fiscal year 2015.

ISBE announced that its Finance and Audit Committee will host the first of five public hearings immediately following the Oct. 23 board meeting at Carbondale Community High School in Carbondale. The board will submit its fiscal 2015 education budget recommendation by January to the governor and General Assembly.

In addition to developing the FY 2015 state education budget, the board is assisting the Senate Education Funding Advisory Committee as it works to study the current method of distributing state funding to school districts. The committee’s goal is to propose a state education funding system that provides adequate, equitable, transparent and accountable distribution of funds to school districts that will prepare students for achievement and success after high school.

Testimony from the fiscal 2015 budget hearings regarding the funding formula will be shared with the Senate committee, the board indicated. The committee is to have a proposal ready for the full General Assembly by February.

Illinois’ operating expenditure per pupil can range from $6,009 to $26,225, depending on where a student lives. Collinsville School Districts’ operating expenditure per pupil is $8,975. The district with the highest expenditure is Seneca Township High School District in Seneca at 26,225 per student. The LaSalle county district serves only Seneca High School. Central School District in Tazwell county has the lowest operating expenditure rate with only $6,009 per student. Despite the sparse financial support, 93 percent of the elementary school-only district’s students meet or exceed state test standards.

The fiscal 2014 state budget was nearly $140 million higher than the previous fiscal year, making it the largest budget for education the State Board has received since fiscal 2009. However, there was a $165 million reduction in General State Aid between fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2014.

The GSA is being prorated by about 89 percent for fiscal 2014. The GSA formula supports local school district general operations.

Central to the GSA calculation is the “Foundation Level,” which is intended to represent the minimum level to adequately fund the education of a single pupil in the Illinois kindergarten through 12th grade public school system. That Foundation Level has been set in statue at $6,119 per pupil since 2010. In recent years, however, funds appropriated for GSA have fallen short and districts have not received full reimbursement.

State K-12 Budget Hearings Schedule

• Wednesday, Oct. 23, immediately following board meeting (4 – 6 p.m.) Carbondale Community High School Library, 1301 E. Walnut St., Carbondale, IL 62901
• Tuesday, Nov. 12, 4 – 6 p.m. at the Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St., Champaign, IL. 61820
• Thursday, Nov. 14, 4 – 6 p.m. in the College of Lake County auditorium, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake, IL 60030
• Wednesday, Nov. 20, 4 – 6 p.m. at the Macomb High School Library, 1525 S. Johnson St., Macomb, IL 61455
• Friday, Nov. 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Thompson Center conference room 16-503, 100 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60601

The State Board’s Finance and Audit Committee conducts public hearings each year to gather opinions about local district’s education needs and priorities as they prepare the following year’s education budget. The board generally recommends an education budget in January, several months prior to any General Assembly action on the next fiscal year’s budget. The board can only make a recommendation. The governor and legislators must determine how to generate revenue and set the final budget.