PEORIA, Ill. – Eighteen area school districts will be receiving nearly $8 million for much needed improvements to classrooms and school buildings.
Democratic State Sen. Dave Koehler, of Peoria, says the money is coming from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula, which overhauled the way Illinois funds its K-12 schools.
The law has made school funding more equitable statewide by calculating an individual district’s needs, based on state revenue. The formula takes into account a school district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learning students, among other factors.
“Without proper investment in schools, from poor wages for teachers, a lack of modern technology or textbooks, and access to basic supplies like notebooks and pens, students aren’t able to learn to the best of their ability,” he said. “Investing properly in our schools is necessary to set all Illinoisans up for success in their future, and I am proud that the evidence-based funding model has continued to take steps to more equitable outcomes in education.”
Area school districts receiving funding through the formula include:
- Peoria School District 150: $4,553,535
- McLean County Unit District 5: $1,732,448
- Alternative Learning Opportunities Programs (DeWitt, Livingston and McLean County Regional Office of Education): $242,646
- Bloomington School District 87: $240,634
- Regional Safe Schools (Peoria County Regional Office of Education): $26,324
- Pleasant Valley School District 62: $134,010
- Bartonville School District 66: $3,588
- Oak Grove School District 68: $11,115
- Pleasant Hill School District 69: $6,638
- Monroe School District 70: $58,335
- Limestone Community High School District 310: $17,549
- Peoria Heights Community Unit School District 325: $58,229
- District 50 Schools: $56,782
- Robein School District 85: $12,499
- East Peoria School District 86: $1,170
- East Peoria Community High School District 309: $18,433
- Illinois State University Lab Schools: $731,192
- Regional Safe Schools (DeWitt, Livingston and McLean County Regional Office of Education): $24.76
Illinois’ Fiscal Year 2025 budget invests $350 million in new funding for students’ success through the evidence-based funding model.
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