What is Your District’s EBF Spending Plan?

Since its implementation in 2017, the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula has proven to be a successful tool for increasing funding in Illinois’ K-12 public schools while driving resources to the most underfunded districts. To date, the state has invested over $2.1 billion in new funds through EBF, reducing the number of underfunded school districts in Illinois.  

Local education agencies (LEAs) funded through the EBF formula are required annually to submit a ‘spending plan’ outlining how they plan to allocate new funds in a given school year. 

The Advance Illinois team created an activity in which the Educator Advisory Council (EAC) was able to learn more about funding adequacy in their district and investigate how their district is planning to spend the new tier funding recently received through EBF.  

Learn about why the Evidence-Based Funding Spending Plan Report is so important here.  

An EAC member, who recently participated in this activity shared their thoughts on exploring the spending plan at her community school.  

“When I first joined EAC, I had no frame of reference for school budgets in any district. I knew that schools received money based on property taxes and that it was supplemented by the state and federal governments in some way. This spending plan activity allowed me to look at all of the districts around me and compare them to districts in wealthier communities. The website equity dashboard allowed me to see the change in the level of money given to each district because of EBF funding through the years. I looked deeper into the budget to see where certain funds were going.

In particular, I can see that my community school started with 57% adequacy back in 2018 and with EBF funding it has increased to 78% in 2024. EBF dollars are being put in the pockets of districts that need them the most. This allows for more equity across the state. My children attend this district, and I think there’s been improvements over the last few years.

I would advise everyone to take a look at the spending plans that are enacted in your community districts. It is an easy thing to check out. Our students are our future. Even if you don’t have a child in school- your property taxes still go to the local schools. It is so important when voting for school board members and state legislators. People often think there’s nothing to be done at the district level with state funds, but we do have a voice in elections.”

Read about the state’s findings in its own analysis of spending plans across the state in the 2024 Evidence-Based Spending Plan Report. 

CLICK HERE FOR ACTIVITY