How Well Did Illinois Score in “Is School Funding Fair: A National Report Card,” February 2018?

The Fairness Measures:

The report evaluates states on the basis of four separate, but interrelated, fairness measures. These measures are designed to provide meaningful comparisons among states by taking into account factors that influence education costs, such as geography, regional labor markets, and population density, where appropriate. The measures are:

·Funding Level:

Using figures adjusted to account for a variety of interstate differences, this measure allows for a comparison of the average state and local revenue per pupil across states. States are ranked from highest to lowest in per pupil funding.

·Funding Distribution:

This measure shows whether a state provides more or less funding to schools based on their poverty concentration. States are evaluated as "regressive", "progressive", or "flat" and are given letter grades that correspond to their relative position compared to other states.

·Effort:

This measures differences in state spending relative to a state’s fiscal capacity. States are ranked according to the ratio of state spending on education to gross state product (GSP) and personal income.

·Coverage:

This measures the proportion of school-aged children attending the state’s public schools and also addresses the income disparity between families using public and nonpublic schools. States are ranked according to both the proportion of children in public schools and the income ratio of public and non-public school families.

Illinois:

Funding Level: 16 (out of 50)

Funding Distribution: Grade “F” (rated 49 out of 50)

GSP: Grade “C” (rated 29 out of 50)

Personal Income: Grade “C” (rated 25 out of 50)

Coverage: 32 (out of 51 (includes District of Columbia))

For the complete report, click here.