CAT Tracks for May 12, 2006

Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for May 12, 2006

CAPITOL REPORT

Highlights of the Illinois budget agreement from the IEA website. If you "log in", you can get additional details...

Capitol Report

NEW BUDGET INCREASES EDUCATION SPENDING

Illinois continues to have a revenue problem, but public education at all levels received funding increases in the 2006-07 state budget.

Despite limited revenues, elementary and secondary education will receive a 6.3 percent increase or $416 million new dollars. Also, for the first time in several years, spending for higher education will rise with universities seeing a $26 million increase (+2.0 percent); community colleges getting $6.7 million more (+1.9 percent); and adult education spending will swell by 2.1 percent ($963,000).

"Education has remained a top priority for the governor and the General Assembly," said IEA President Ken Swanson. "

This budget allows public education to keep its head above water for another year, but real funding reform is needed in order to achieve the goal of allowing every student everywhere in Illinois access to a high quality education."

MORE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

General State Aid (GSA) - 5.73 percent increase (this will help IEA downstate and in urban districts)

$170 per student increase in the foundation level
GSA hold-harmless is extended another year
Poverty Grant funded at 100 percent

Mandated Categoricals, including special education - 3.8 percent increase (this will aid all districts)

this year's proration levels
$56 million in new dollars

ADA Block Grant - 13.3 percent increase (this will also aid our suburban districts)

$10 million new dollars

The FY 07 budget also provides funding for programs IEA had strongly lobbied, including:

$2 million for an induction and mentoring pilot program
$800,000 for start-up costs for a principals' mentoring program
$10 million for a new class size reduction pilot program

In addition, the budget also contains a $4.5 million increase for bilingual education, a $45 million increase for early childhood education and $5 million for a laptop pilot program.
Also included is an increase of $5.5 million to fully fund the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards stipends and $12 million in transition assistance to guarantee that no school district can receive less state funds in FY 07 than it did in FY 06.
WITH IEA SUPPORT, TAX CREDITS GIVE WAY TO A BETTER IDEA
IEA helped reshape Gov. Blagojevich's attempt to establish a tuition tax credit program for higher education. Amid IEA opposition, the tax credit plan was dropped and, instead, $35 million is being added to the current Monetary Award Program (MAP).
In addition, a new program will allow the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to sell or lease some student loans. This MAP Plus program will provide to college sophomores, juniors and seniors an additional grant of $500 per student.
IEA'S SIX PERCENT RULE COMPROMISE SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
Legislation endorsed by the IEA Executive Committee that contains the 6 percent pension compromise proposal was approved in the legislature this week and sent to the governor.
The House approved the proposal contained in SB 49 on Monday by a vote of 106-0, and the Senate concurred on Wednesday with a 58-0 vote.
"The compromise is the product of months of hard work by the IEA Department of Government Relations and the grassroots activism of IEA members statewide who have demanded the unintended consequences of last year's pension bill be addressed," said IEA President Ken Swanson.
"While the compromise proposal does not eliminate all of the problems impacting IEA members, it does deal, in a positive way, with many of the issues raised."
IEA OPPOSITION STOPS PROPERTY TAX EROSION BILL
On Wednesday, the House rejected SB 2350, an extension of the 7 percent assessment cap enacted by the General Assembly last year. IEA joined the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the School Management Alliance and other management groups to oppose the legislation.
The bill would have resulted in tax relief for a select group of homeowners, while raising taxes on most businesses, senior citizens and homeowners with low value or slowly appreciating homes. As a result, these other groups could have realized a tax increase.
IEA opposed the bill on the grounds that businesses and industry would abandon communities due to an increased tax burden. In addition, the legislation would hamstring school districts operating under a tax cap, hindering their abilities to raise taxes to compensate for the changes in the tax base.
BILLS APPROVED AND SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
SB2795, sponsored by Sen. George Shadid (D-Edwards) and Rep. Michael Smith (D-Canton), changes the law governing consolidation of certain school districts. IEA took no position on this school reorganization bill initiated by the governor and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
SB 859, sponsored by Sen. Edward Maloney (D-Chicago) and Rep. Lisa Dugan (D-Bradley), allows certain crimes committed in another state to be used to disqualify a teacher from employment in Illinois even though the crimes may go under another name in another state. IEA supported the bill after the House sponsor accepted an IEA amendment.
NO ACTION ON OTHER PROPOSALS
In the final week, the legislature took no action on the following important IEA bills:

Tenure Reform - SB 277
ESP Reduction in Force - HB 5031

LEGISLATURE NOT TO RETURN UNTIL AFTER FALL ELECTIONS
The House and Senate will return to Springfield for the fall veto session after the November elections.