Huge school aid payments on the way

After months of delay, schools will receive about $560 million in additional state aid for this school year.

Lawmakers Thursday approved a plan to give extra aid to schools for general purposes and special education.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich had sent the proposal back to lawmakers last week with slight changes, which the Senate accepted Wednesday and the House accepted Thursday.

The law takes effect immediately and districts could begin collecting the extra money as soon as Jan. 22, said Matt Vanover, a spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Education.

School districts have been receiving state aid payments based on 2006-07 funding levels.

The legislation includes a $400 increase to the minimum amount the state says must be spent educating each child, raising it to $5,734.

It also includes a $1,000 bump to the amount schools are reimbursed for special education teachers. The reimbursement rate increase, to $9,000, is the first in more than 20 years.

Local schools that stand to gain the most in general state aid from the legislation, according to state board statistics, include:

Aurora West Unit District 129, due an extra $2.8 million.

Central Unit District 301, due $1.4 million.

Crystal Lake Area High School District 155, due $1.3 million.

Huntley Unit District 158, due $1.5 million.

Indian Prairie Unit District 204, due $6.3 million.

Round Lake Unit District 116, due $2.9 million.

Elgin Area School District U-46, due $3.4 million.

Wealthier suburban districts, which receive less general state aid, will benefit most from the special education reimbursement hikes.