Advocacy Angle
State and Federal Funding: Priorities are in Order
By Sarah MillerAlmost 10 years ago, the Evidence-Based Funding Formula (EBF) was passed by the Illinois General Assembly. This was a monumental step forward for the State of Illinois in prioritizing public education and funding the services that are needed by our students. EBF promised $350 million in new funding each year, with $300 million of that going directly to the districts most in need through Tier Funding.
Importantly, each year since the passage of EBF, Illinois has followed through on that $300 million annual commitment in Tier Funding, with the exception of a one-year pause in new funding during the pandemic. This is an important step for Illinois in creating predictability for our districts.
IASB and its partner organizations reaffirmed the commitment to EBF through Vision 2030 and is committed to “protect the integrity and funding” of EBF. While this support of EBF must continue, Illinois districts have become increasingly concerned about the insufficiency of other critical K-12 state funding sources that fall outside of EBF, specifically the Mandated Categoricals (also known as MCATs). Additionally, the lack of sufficient federal funding sources, including funding from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), has also become a concern.
Illinois districts rely heavily on three state Mandated Categoricals in particular: Regular Transportation, Special Education Transportation, and Special Education Placements. The three represent over $1 billion in K-12 funding annually.
Reasons they are critical include:
Importantly, each year since the passage of EBF, Illinois has followed through on that $300 million annual commitment in Tier Funding, with the exception of a one-year pause in new funding during the pandemic. This is an important step for Illinois in creating predictability for our districts.
IASB and its partner organizations reaffirmed the commitment to EBF through Vision 2030 and is committed to “protect the integrity and funding” of EBF. While this support of EBF must continue, Illinois districts have become increasingly concerned about the insufficiency of other critical K-12 state funding sources that fall outside of EBF, specifically the Mandated Categoricals (also known as MCATs). Additionally, the lack of sufficient federal funding sources, including funding from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), has also become a concern.
Illinois districts rely heavily on three state Mandated Categoricals in particular: Regular Transportation, Special Education Transportation, and Special Education Placements. The three represent over $1 billion in K-12 funding annually.
Reasons they are critical include:
- Transportation – Districts are mandated to transport students who live more than 1.5 miles away to and from school. This funding source is important to all school districts, but is especially important to rural districts and larger districts with significant transportation needs. Additionally, with an increase in student chronic absenteeism since the pandemic, it is more important than ever to ensure students have access to safe means of getting to and from school.
- Education Transportation – Many of our most vulnerable students require additional one-on-one aides to assist them on the bus routes, as well as specialized vehicles to get to and from school. Additionally, many high-needs students who are placed outside of their local districts need transportation to and from those placements, which can be over an hour commute in some instances.
- Education Private/ Public Placements – These are the services provided to some of our highest-need students whose IEP teams have determined that they attend a private or separate public school to meet their needs.
At the time these mandates were passed, they came with clear commitments by the federal and state governments to share those costs with local school districts. Because the commitments have wavered, local districts are absorbing more and more of these costs each year. This puts incredible pressure on local school district budgets as their communities must absorb these costs. Despite the lack of sufficient funding, these services must still be provided to ensure that all students receive a quality public education. Our districts are committed to providing those services, and we must advocate for state and federal legislators to make that same commitment to supporting those students by funding the services that they need.
Vision 2030 also contains a commitment to “continue the EBF Distribution Model and Mandated Categorical payments annually to protect equitable distribution of funds. All funds to support public education in Illinois must be provided to local districts on an annual basis.” Mandated Categoricals are services provided to some of the state’s most vulnerable students. Failure to fund these services impacts the entire school community. It causes increased caseloads for teachers, school social workers, school psychologists, and other staff, resulting in less programming for all students when funds are diverted from other critical education programs to fill the funding gaps caused by state and federal government underfunding.
We acknowledge that these services are expensive and that there are so many other pressures on the state and federal budgets each year. However, the services provided by these Mandated Categoricals and IDEA are fundamental to ensuring access to public education for all students.
This important issue will be one of IASB’s 2026 legislative priorities. We must reaffirm our commitment to these students, the services they need to succeed, and the state and federal funding needed to provide those services.
Sarah Miller is Associate Executive Director for Governmental Relations at the Illinois Association of School Boards.