Failure is Not an Option
Once again, another study is out grading states on the issue of school funding. Once again, Illinois comes up waaaay short.A study recently conducted by Quality Counts 2006 published in Education Week magazine gives Illinois schools a C+ overall grade but only a D+ when it comes to school funding. The grade is down from the C“ Illinois was awarded last year. In the study, conducted by Editorial Projects in Education, it lists its reasoning for the lukewarm grade.Regardless of what you think the solution is, I would think that we could all agree that there is a problem. What is troubling to me is that many of the fine folks at ISBE still don't seem to even have a grasp on that basic fact:
"Illinois falls short in resource equity, scoring in the lower tier of states. Its wealth-neutrality score is among the worst in the nation, indicating that per-pupil funding is considerably higher in its wealthier districts than in its poorer districts," the document reads.
Meta Minton, public information officer with the Illinois State Board of Education, said that unfortunately the disparity in property values across the state leads to this gap in funding.Duh. That's why we can't be so reliant on property taxes to fund our schools. As I have repeatedly stated, it is inequitable and immoral for the quality of a child's education to be predicated upon the value of the dirt in the town in which he or she resides.
"You're always going to have that," Minton said.
I can, and have, extensively discussed this issue here and in other forums. I appreciate that there are several passionate and competing thoughts on what needs to be done. Recent discussions about school district consolidations are one valid piece of that puzzle and I hope that we address that issue in the very near future. And without even getting into the amounts of funding, I still maintain that we need to address the manner in which we fund schools. Soon.
posted by Rep. John Fritchey @ 1/10/2006
13 comments
13 Comments:
How do you teach kids without books? How do you teach kids with chairs that are broken? I don't know
I'm not happy about it, but my kids won't read a book, but they'll read anything on a computer screen.
I have a secret plan to fix our schools but I won't tell anyone until I get elected to the general assembly
Rep. Fritchey,
The property tax is not the problem. Its distribution is.
Take all of the property tax generated for education and distribute it state-wide.
Bill,
My son read books and computer screens. The problem with the schools is that they won't teach kids to read either of them.
"Balanced Illiteracy" and "Concocted Math" are proven ineffective curricula, and when John starts legislating quality curricula in the class room, I'll take his carping about funding more seriously.
Big Joe,
Unfortunately, that is a better platform than any one else's out there. You have my vote.
Anon 12:26
Great idea. That would strip away the corrupt pretense that the tax for schools is local.
It would also cause a mass revolt in rich suburban bonehead land, where the doped white mice actually believe their absurd taxes are buying them a quality education.
___
John,
A nice try, but you want your cake and to eat it too. You know as well as I do that any HB750 style swap will not yield a dime of property tax relief. It will only serve to slow the rate of growth for a year or so, while the big state tax hike will fund huge pension debts - not education.
This is intentional (and therefore intellectually dishonest) on the part of HB750 promoters.
If you are going to advocate a swap, make it a REAL swap with PERMANENT cuts in property taxes.
I'll once again remind you that you can't serve "the children" and the Teacher's Unions at the same time. Big Education isn't interested in children, it's interested in Big Education.
Whose side are you on?
Amen, the current system we have is sickening and condemns many poor families to generations of poverty as poorer families get the worse education while richer ones have it better.
I say trash the property tax system, swap for income tax (it would be nice if we could have a progressive income tax) or increased pollution taxes (instead of pollution regulations) and give each school $6-7,000 per pupil.
John, does the study include pension accounting? Is there any other state that lets some, but not all, local districts pass pension costs onto the state? Even before you get to the property tax question it seems like someone needs to start talking about that.
John: Amen, amen, to the sentiments you express. Plenty of pious politicians promise better things for our schoolchildren. They simultaneously rule out even the consideration of several options (including, but not limited to, any possibility of increasing the income tax).
Everything -- but everything -- ought to be on the table to start this kinda discussion. If you promise better days, you should be willing to look from horizon to wide horizon for ways to deliver.
Greg,
I did read Mike's paper, and I'm a big fan of Il.Pol.Inst.
Mike has offered a reasonable critique of my idea of a permanent swap, and I will incorporate some of his arguments in my update to my "plan."
With out going into too much detail, here are some general points.
1. I don't know where Hoxby found "greater local control," but it wasn't in Illinois. Here, the district is a mere appendage of the greater state bureaucracy, and most Superintendents tell their acolytes on the "board" that 85-90% of spending is "mandated."
Some of this a smoke screen to keep boards in line, but it is mostly true. Local control in IL is mostly a myth.
2. I understand what you mean about "equalization" being a myth of sorts, but that doesn't mean that the state can't end the "local/state" charade, and fund Children (not districts or systems)
If IL abolishes the STATE AUTHORIZED education tax, hikes State taxes, and funds each child, there will be numerous suburbs that attempt to reimpose a property tax. Let them, as long as that money is funneled through parents first, and not the local bureaucracy. (which will be abolished)
3. As I pointed out above, the theory of the Superiority of Property taxes breaks down because there is no real local control.
But wait, there's more. Another theory is that by taxing incomes, you have a direct negative effect on incentives. I buy that argument, from an incentive, AND operational standpoint. By drawing money out of personal control, you damage the economy. Theoretically, property taxes do less damage.
HOWEVER, look at the operational effect of property taxes (particularly as they have exploded through district PTELL schemes).
Well over 80-90% of mortgages escrow taxes. This has virtually the same operational effect as witholding income taxes from your paycheck.
For most Illinois citizens, a 66% property tax cut offers an immediate benefit to their bottom line that is probably more impactful than the income tax increase from my proposed REAL (not FAKE) swap.
I learned a few things from my early days at Heartland. One was that the tax MIX was less important than the TOTAL TAX TAKE.
My proposal creates the ability to;
1. Cut property taxes
2. Increase Revenues to the State (which will need them to pay profligate - but protected - pension largess)
3. Fund Children Equally
4. Increase Local Control (every school becomes an independent Charter)
5. Create school choice (anti-choice is intellectually indefensible)
6. Slices, dices, cuts prices - all at the expense of the most useless governmental entity ever invented - the School District.
Greg,
In my conversations, research, and analysis of the Education Industry, I've looked at every iteration/avenue one could look at to drastically and/or incrementally "reform" the system.
At every turn, district and governance combine to create a system that is impervious to reform.
Let's just take our area of agreement (funding children, not systems)
If it isn't funneled through the state, there where is it funneled through?
I submit that the state/local axis is a structure intentionally designed to stymie any such effort. They play a shell game where anytime you attempt to assign, divide, or even assess responsibility, one entity sloughs it off on the other. (and both say they need more money)
The Constitution gives the state, not the local, government the power and the responsibility for education. Let's put it all there, and demand a system that works.
Your use of the word "funnel" is instructive. With ONE entity to watch, (the State) policy makers, legislators can discern (and be held responsible for) their policy choices.
The funneling of dollars, responsibility, and power through 886 irresponsible and corrupt districts is far more wasteful than funneling it through one entity.
Further, a direct transfer from the state to the parent put all the responsibility where it belongs and is deserved - the family.
There is no intellectually sound argument against school choice.
Rep. Fritchey,
Totally off topic question/suggestion for the blog:
What are the big issues that will be raised in session? Not necessarily resulting in new laws, but at least leading to a strong debate.
Interested to see your views/predictions.
AmyE, do your per-pupil expenses include pension costs? Look into it, because many schools in the state have a sweetheart deal -- the state pays the pension costs, no matter how lucrative (remember $300K superintendent retirement packages), and that's not always included in the per-student cost -- the TRUE cost to the taxpayers. In essence, those school districts force the rest of us to pay their teachers' retirement out of our taxes. While still struggling to bring our schools up to par.
Look into it.
Many of these comments seem a ruse for enacting school vouchers.
Steve,
No Ruse. Consider my comments a completely open attack on the most corrupt enterprise in the Nation today, as well as an unabashed attempt to enact the only reform capable of reversing the rot.
If your goal is an educated populace, there is no intellectually sound argument against scholarships/vouchers.
Simply put... Fund Children, not Systems.
I'd be happy to take this up with You, John, or anybody else in any open venue.
Once exposed to the facts and common sense, even the Rich Suburban Soccer Mom comes around.
Of Course, if you are a member of the interlocking web of entities (BIG EDUCATION) that has taken in more money (in real terms) and provided less quality for that money for over 70+ years, you'd have a strong interest in holding on the political clout you've amassed during that period.
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