Don't Believe School Funding is a Problem? Read This.

The data is shocking: If the students who enrolled in kindergarten in Chicago Public Schools in 1994 had, instead, enrolled in top-spending Lake Forest-Libertyville schools, they would have reaped the benefit of an extra $36 billion-worth of education by the time they graduated.

That statistic was just one of many unveiled at our Sept. 18 forum on school funding, where state Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago), Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson, state Rep. Roger Eddy (R-Hutsonville) and other legislators and activists made yet another call for statewide school funding reform.

Even those of us who have been covering education for years were surprised at the latest data that illustrate just how wide Illinois' school funding disparities are, especially over the course of a child's schooling. For instance, research shows it takes at least 50 percent more money to educate a child in poverty than a middle-income student, if both are expected to meet the same academic standards. Both the state and federal government recognize this, and provide supplemental funding to schools that serve poor kids. But even with that extra cash, high-poverty schools in Illinois still receive $407 less per student than low-poverty districts.

Take away that cash, and the disparities are even wider: The gap balloons to $1,394 per student.

Go to our website for a story on the forum, along with briefing papers that include statistics on the impact of extra funding for poor students and on spending over the course of a child's schooling.

The forum was co-hosted with our sister publication, The Chicago Reporter, the Center on Tax and Budget Accountability and Community Renewal Society (publisher of Catalyst and the Reporter).

Also, the inaugural issue of Catalyst In Depth reports on how to help those schools 'left behind' in the wake of academic progress made by the majority of schools in the city. Our stories report on Libby Elementary, in New City, one of the city's poorest neighborhoods; Medill Elementary, the district's lowest-performing school; a program that aims to help middle-school students do better in school by improving their lives outside school; and on programs at Calumet charter school and the Logan Square Neighborhood Association.

Comments

[plutocrat03]

Chicago's property tax as measured as a percentage of the assessed value of the property is amongst the lowest in the state. Most of the citizens in the state pay a larger proportion of their properties value in taxes. The collar counties generally pay 2.5 to 3 times the rate Chicagoans do.

With all the high end real estate that is in Chicago, only 44.1% of the school funding comes from local sources. The collar counties including the much vilified New Trier provide 85% to 90% of their school's funding from local sources. The State provides Chicago kids more money per capita tan any other region in the State.

If there is a problem in funding, the failure is in the local contribution. So Mayor Daley, stop your poor mouthing and raise the property tax to pay your fair share of the educational costs.

[dexxjones]

please. school funding is rarely the problem. government corruption and especially local school administration is usually the problem. the teachers and administrators and janitorial and construction of these schools IS THE PROBLEM.

we arent buying the GOP talking points and crap anymore and we ALSO arent buying the dlc democratic garbage either.

[irkthesmirk]

You don't know what you're talking about, dexxjones. According to peer-reviewed research by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a well-respected, NON-PARTISAN, organization:

"By examining funding levels in successful schools, using teams of experienced educators to develop model education systems, and performing statistical analyses of school resources, poverty rates, and academic achievement, researchers in different states have reached similar conclusions: in order to reduce significantly the academic achievement gap, school districts need funding for poor students equal to two to two-and-a-half times of the cost of educating non-poor students."

http://www.cbpp.org/11-7-02sfp3.htm

I know this doesn't jibe wth your narrow ignorant view of the educational system but maybe it will help convince you to do a little research of your own before spewing your nonsense next time.

[dexxjones]

i know exactly what i'm talking about. throwing money at it will not help until the greedy entrenched interests are sent packing. nyc's schools arent crap because of a lack of funding. their crap because the ridiculous funding they already get is wasted on cronyism, fraud and greed. this isnt a partisan issue- its a corruption issue. always was.

visit a nyc school once in a while why dontcha. and dont forget to pack a weapon

[Skepticat]

The problem dexxjones is the schools have to work with what they get, and they don't get dealt an equal hand. Go to the nearest large older city ( population over at least 600,000+ and check out the low income areas - and local schools & school population - then go out to the "burbs and compare. you might actually learn something.

[dexxjones]

the problem is that much of what they get is snatched by the baddies. same as in the rest of government. why do people think the school situation is any different? in many ways its worse.