Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Illinois’ top K-12 educator is still carrying the banner for the state’s new school funding formula.

“Evidence-based funding,” enacted in 2017, “remains the principal funding source for Illinois schools,” said Illinois State Board of Education superintendent Tony Sanders (pictured). “In FY 2027, ISBE recommends an increase of $350 million, which includes $300 million in tier funding to school districts, and up to $50 million for the property tax relief grant, as required by statute.”

Speaking to a House committee Tuesday, Sanders maintained he’s a fan. “EBF has transformed districts for the better and is most likely the reason why our pandemic recovery has been faster and stronger than other states.”

The $10.9 billion ask, said Sanders, “represents a net increase of approximately $469.7 million in education funding. We are very conscious of the state’s tight fiscal environment, and so we prioritized the most crucial funding streams and those investments that will have the most direct impact on student success.”

The committee’s top Republican, State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), said the budget request should be less, seeing as how ISBE is offloading some functions onto a new agency, the Illinois Department of Early Childhood. What’s more, Wilhour said Illinoisans should be eligible for tax breaks for donations to private schools. When Sanders said he awaits federal rules on the program, Wilhour dismissed that as an excuse.

“When this governor wants something, he generally gets it,” Wilhour said. “So I just don’t think that this is something that you guys want to do, I don’t think it’s something you want to advocate for, clearly, and it’s not something the governor wants to advocate for.”

The legislature wants to adopt a state budget by May 31.