This is from LegINFO.org. ------ Forwarded Message From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 15:48:02 -0500 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: LegINFO.org : Education - Chapter 1 Gains Momentum >From the staff at LegINFO.org <http://www.leginfo.org> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mr. Michael Lach: CPS head Paul Vallas offers small increase; Fair Funding Coalition continues outreach to Mayor Daley. After weeks of refusing to negotiate on a proposed Chapter 1 increase for Chicago local schools, CPS chief executive Paul Vallas weighed in yesterday with bill language that would give LSCs control of 5% of the new money generated by increases in general state aid. This deal would generate $2.2 to $3 million during FY 2002 - a far cry from the $32 million dollar increase that LSC and community advocates had originally sought. Representative William Delgado, who received Vallas' offer in a Wednesday meeting, praised CPS for coming to the table, but indicated that the deal would need to improve substantially in order to solve the fundamental challenge of unstable local funding that fails to keep pace with increases in overall General State Aid (GSA). Delgado had previously offered compromise language that reduced the upfront price tag, but permanently pegged Chapter 1 at 36% of Chicago's GSA - it's current level. Future local school increases would be proportional to changes generated to the school system at large by the state funding formula. While Delgado was careful to leave the door open for future dialogue, as details of the Vallas proposal have leaked out, community groups participating in the Fair Funding for Chicago Schools Coalition have grown increasingly skeptical. First, they point out that using Vallas' own estimates, the average local school gets less than $4000. With inflation, local schools could actually lose ground under the CPS proposal. Second, Vallas' bill allows CPS to use chapter 1 money to plug holes if the system's budget is out of balance, but gives the CPS wide leeway to declare a deficit. Long-time reform advocates point out that this was a common practice in pre-reform CPS, and a large part of the reason the legislature devolved Chapter 1 money to local schools in the 1989 reform law. Third, advocates say the offer is far too small to make a real difference, noting that that state funding for CPS has grown $520 million since 1995, while local funding has remained flat at $261 million. This local allocation represented over half of GSA in 1995 - today it represents less than 36%. Constituent pressure generated by the Fair Funding Coalition remains intense. The Fair Funding Coalition was formed three weeks ago by over thirty neighborhood-based, education reform and business organizations working in support of local schools. In addition to HB2523 Supplemental State Aid Distribution <http://www.leginfo.org/billdetail.cfm?billid=147> , the Fair Funding Coalition supports HB 3521 GO BONDS - School Construction Programs <http://www.leginfo.org/billdetail.cfm?billid=186> , a bipartisan proposal to increase Illinois First to provide $500 million for statewide school construction. This bill has the support of House Speaker Michael Madigan, and would generate $100 million to relieve overcrowding and repair schools in Chicago. The group also supports increasing the statewide "foundation level" funding for each child to $4600, a more aggressive proposal than the one backed by Governor Ryan. For a copy of the of Fair Funding Coalition membership or more information on Education legislation, call Andy Wade at 312 499-4800. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To be removed from this listserv, reply to this e-mail, with "Unsubscribe" as Subject, and "Unsubscribe from listserv" in the body of the text. --- Copyright � 2001 Community Legislative Information Service of Illinois ------ End of Forwarded Message -- This is the ISTA-talk mailing list. To unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For more information: <http://www.ista-il.org/ista-talk.asp> To search the archives: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/>
