State Senator Jason Barickman/Photo Courtesy of Mr. Barickman's office

By Todd Wineburner

State Senator Jason Barickman announced yesterday a new education measure he’s bringing to the General Assembly. Speaking in Springfield, Barickman proposed a system of linking state funding mechanisms with the circumstances of each school district. “If we’re ever going to end the funding disparity between school districts and replace the clearly broken funding mechanism that’s in place now,” Barickman told reporters, “I think we have to look to real evidence-based solutions.” Barickman’s idea is supported by a variety of education-affiliated groups, and Brett Clark, the president of the Illinois Association of School administrators, says his group supports Barickman’s idea because it makes sense to align expenditures with a school district’s needs. “The theory behind this is that you would (assess a district’s needs) based on what they can produce and what they have to confront to deliver that adequate education.” Barickman says his proposal is unique and is not connected with other proposals that have already been introduced in the General Assembly.