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Final School Funding Bill Signed Into Law

Bruce Rauner
Daisy Contreras
/
NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS
Gov. Bruce Rauner

The final piece of Illinois’ education funding overhaul has been signed into law.

Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday approved legislation intended to tie up loose ends in original law, which passed last summer.

State Senator Andy Manar, a Democrat from Bunker Hill, says the changes are long overdue.

“For the first time in decades, money is going to be prioritized based on the need of each individual school district, which means the neediest districts are at the front of the line, not at the back of the line," Manar said.

The Illinois State Board of Education hasn’t been able to release any of the extra $350 million earmarked for schools until these fixes were made. Agency officials told lawmakers this should been the final law needed to move ahead with the new system.

Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
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