A bill opponents say would siphon money from suburban and downstate schools to Chicago is making its way through Springfield.
The bill’s sponsor, Democratic Senator Andy Manar, says it’s a wholesale change in the school funding formula, while Bloomington Republican Jason Barickman calls the funding overhaul a no-strings-attached bailout for Chicago schools.
“It’ can’t be Chicago Public Schools getting $700 million from kids in every other district around this state. That’s their money,” Barickman said.
The bill passed the Senate and now heads to the House for consideration.