WEST CHICAGO— State Senator Karina Villa announced that three school districts across the area will receive over $7.8 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.
“The evidence-based funding formula ensures that resources are allocated in ways that maximize educational outcomes for our K-12 students,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Basing funding decisions on data-driven methods enhances the overall quality of education that our students are receiving—leading to better student achievement and success.”
The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.
Local schools set to receive funding through the formula:
- Aurora East Unit School District 131: $6,530,984
- West Chicago Community High School District 94: $1,019,013
- West Chicago School District 33: $279,331
The Fiscal Year 2024 budget invested $350 million in new funding into students’ success through the evidence-based funding model.
For more information on the FY 24 evidence-based funding distribution, visit the Illinois State Board of Education’s website.
