Hearing on school funding formula set for Nov. 18

The head of a key House education committee says a hearing on a proposed overhaul of Illinois' dated school funding formula is scheduled for Nov. 18.

Democratic Rep. Will Davis chairs the Illinois House Elementary and Secondary Education Appropriations Committee. He says lawmakers will hold the hearing in Springfield to discuss the potential changes. The House declined to take up the bill last spring despite its passage by the Senate.

The bill would direct more money to poorer rural districts and less to wealthier suburban districts. While there is agreement that education funding formula should be altered, how it should be changed remains under debate.

Opponents say the bill being considered unfairly penalizes districts able to spend more money on students because of rich property tax bases.