Hernandez-Backed Reform to Provide $20.9 Million in Additional Funding for Local Schools

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, member of the Latino Caucus, fought to ensure every child has the tools necessary to succeed by supporting a historic education funding reform plan that changes the state’s funding system to one that is based on student need.

“After Gov. Rauner’s rejection of a school funding plan, we had to take action to make sure that our local schools would be able to remain open,” Hernandez said. “After months of bipartisan negotiations and compromise, we were able to find a solution that not only keeps schools open, but ensures that every child in our local school districts and in communities across Illinois will have access to a quality education.”

Hernandez voted to pass Senate Bill 1947, which will change the education funding formula to one that is data driven and based on student need. The new formula will take into account various factors including teacher to pupil ratio, technology costs, the number of low-income students and English learners. As a result, more financial assistance and state funds will go to districts with greater need. Under Senate Bill 1947, local schools in the 24th District will receive approximately the following in additional funding:

• Sterling Morton High School District 201— $8,595,117
• Cicero School District 99— $7,755,914
• Berwyn South School District 100— $2,988,354
• Berwyn North School District 98— $1,585,630

Senate Bill 1947 would also ensure that Bilingual Education will be fully funded for the upcoming school year by increasing its funding to $38,376,300. Bilingual Education has not been fully funded for several decades.

“Our education funding reform plan is a big win for the students in my district, who like many across Illinois, have long suffered the consequences of a broken system that discriminates against poorer communities,” Hernandez said. “Education gives every child a foundation to dream and achieve as big as they want. Now with this new law in place, we can move forward knowing that our schools will remain open and our children will receive the resources they deserve!”

Spanish Translation:

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – La representante estatal Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernández, D-Cícero, apoyo una reforma histórica que cambiará la manera en que la educación es financiada en Illinois, asegurando que cada niño tenga los recursos necesarios para triunfar.

“Después que el gobernador Rauner rechazo un plan para financiar la educación, tuvimos que actuar rápido para asegurar que ninguna escuela tuviera que cerrar sus puertas,” Hernández dijo. “Después de meses de negociaciones y compromiso, encontramos una solución que no solo mantendrá abiertas las escuelas, pero que asegurará que todos los niños en nuestros distritos escolares y en comunidades alrededor de Illinois tengan acceso a una educación de calidad.”

Hernández apoyo la Legislación del Senado 1947, cuál creará una fórmula de financiación escolar basada en la necesidad de cada distrito. La nueva fórmula tomará en cuenta varios factores, incluyendo la proporción entre maestros y alumnos, costos de tecnología, el número de estudiantes de bajos ingresos y estudiantes de inglés como segundo idioma. Debajo del plan de reforma, los distritos escolares en el Distrito 24 recibirán aproximadamente lo siguiente en fondos adicionales:

• Sterling Morton High School District 201— $8,595,117
• Cicero School District 99— $7,755,914
• Berwyn South School District 100— $2,988,354
• Berwyn North School District 98— $1,585,630

La nueva ley también asegurará que la educación bilingüe sea financiada en su totalidad para el próximo año escolar—aumentando su financiamiento a $38,376,300. La educación bilingüe no ha sido completamente financiada por varias décadas.

“Nuestro plan para reformar la manera en que la educación es financiada es una victoria grande para los estudiantes de mi distrito, que como muchos en Illinois, han sufrido las consecuencias de un sistema que discrimina a las comunidades de bajos recursos,” Hernández dijo. “La educación es una herramienta esencial para expandir la oportunidad económica. ¡Y ahora con esta nueva ley podemos avanzar sabiendo que nuestras escuelas permanecerán abiertas y que cada niño recibirá los recursos que se merecen!”