Education plan gives no bang for buck

I was interested in what the state bill over evidence based funding was all about. It appears that evidence based funding appears to be wealth redistribution at a new level and does not provide the projected success it claims.

In an article written by the Illinois Policy organization, evidence based funding was introduced by two professors, Lawrence Picus of the University of Southern California and Allan Odden of the University of Wisconsin. They have traveled the country selling this "Idea" and their claims caused Stanford University Professor Eric A. Hanushek to investigate to find Ohio, North Dakota, Arkansas and Wyoming have all had "evidence-based" funding in place.

In those states, student test score failed to grow at the rates promised, and many instances were flat.

Illinois already outspends every other Midwestern state on education. This evidence based funding will increase the spending even further and does not appear to provide any bang for the buck. I suggest a different model be reviewed as anything endorsed by the rank and file of Illinois has me concerned for not only my checkbook but the future of the kids education.

Tony Atkins

Wheaton