By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – You’ve heard of the state’s “evidence-based funding” for Illinois’ K-12 education? Advocates want to extend a similar program to college.
Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) says the inequity of higher education funding pushes college out of reach for the poor.
“When institutions are underfunded, they are unable to provide the necessary resources and support to all students,” Lightford said Wednesday at a statehouse news conference. “This perpetuates a cycle of inequalities, where those from affluent backgrounds have access to better education and, subsequently, better opportunities; while others are left behind.”
“You[ve got to learn to earn in the modern economy,” said Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. “Just on the adequacy metric, universities right now are underfunded by about $1.4 billion. But for taxpayers, it makes all the sense in the world to put that money in. For every dollar you put into higher ed of taxpayer money, you get over three dollars in private-sector economic activity.”
How to pay for it?
“Well, we’ll just allow the governor and his team to come up with different ways of funding higher education,” said Lightford.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]
