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News Release 21 In order for Illinois' children to receive a World-Class Education and taxpayers to obtain Property Tax Relief, legislation is need next year to distribute $9.4 billion Illinois State Board of Education Budget to directly to the schools. The school board members, superintendents, and principals need to be empowered to provide Illinois' students with a World-Class Education and Taxpayers with Property Tax Relief. Community, business, educators and parents are extremely interest in improving pubic education. This year, Illinois plans to spend $23 billions or $11,500 per student on public education. The average cost for a classroom of 26 students is $300,000. The educational results are deplorable. According to Illinois Board of Education, 668 Illinois schools are on Illinois Watch and Early Warning Lists. The Commercial Club of Chicago report entitled: "Student Achievements in Chicago's Public Schools" details the dismal condition of Chicago’s public School system. Chicago Public High Schools have a 50% dropout rate. The Illinois Board of Education wants more money to solve the problem. The real problem is Leadership. The $9.4 billion or $4,700 per student should be distributed directly to the schools rather than State Board of Education keeping half and distributing the other half. If the funds were distributed at $4,700 per student, Chicago Public Schools would receive $2 billion; and DuPage County Public Schools would receive $750 million. The money left over would be used for Property Tax Relief. Under the plan, Illinois' World-Class schools would be identified and replicated. School Districts would submit proposals to County School Superintendent on how schools plan to provide students with a World-Class Education. World-Class Mentor schools would help under performing schools develop and implement their plans. The education funds would be administered similar to Illinois’ successful School Construction Program. High Schools and Elementary Schools would have goals with World-Class Performance Objectives and Measurements.
To obtain state funding, schools have to submit acceptable plans to County School Superintendents for being or becoming World-Class. The County School Superintendents would have the authority to approve the plans, designate schools as Charter Schools, and give schools temporary exemptions to Illinois' School Code for requirements that are wasting the taxpayers money. School Board members, superintendents, and principals would accept responsibility or have to step aside and let people who will take their place. Schools without plans will not receive any state funding. In Illinois, parents and voters want Illinois' two million students to receive a World-Class Education and Property Tax Relief. Elected officials should control how the $23 billion in Public Education funding is spent rather than bureaucrats. However, Illinois’ public educational system has over 50,000 bureaucrats and state funded lobbyists who want the State of Illinois to continue giving billions of the taxpayer’s dollars to their friends. New Zealand had a similar problem and has improved their education system by distributing the money directly to the schools and holding School Boards Members, Superintendents, and Principals accountable. See article published by the Hillsdale College’s April Imprimis on "Rolling Back Government: Lessons from New Zealand." With the support of community, business, education leaders and millions of voters, Illinois' students can receive a World-Class Education and taxpayers obtain property tax relief. New Zealand has demonstrated that change is possible. Internet References:
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