From: IMLER TIMOTHY L [mailto:TIMLER@isbe.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 4, 2017 9:39 AM
To: 'speddir@list.isbe.net' <speddir@list.isbe.net>
Subject: Update: PA 100-465 Evidence-Based Funding
In the most recent State Superintendent’s Weekly
Message sent out yesterday, please be advised that ISBE has added explanatory
resources to the
Evidence-Based
Funding webpage, including an FAQ, an overview presentation, and a
more technical distribution guide. This page will continue to evolve over time.
There will be a series of prerecorded webinars diving deeper into EBF in the
near future. It is anticipated that final EBF calculations and revised payments
will be available in early to mid-winter.
Please send
any additional questions to
EBFhelp@isbe.net
From: IMLER TIMOTHY L [mailto:TIMLER@isbe.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2017 8:06 AM
To: 'speddir@list.isbe.net' <speddir@list.isbe.net>
Subject: PA 100-465 Evidence-Based Funding
Dear Colleague:
Please be advised that Public Act 100-465 was
signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner on August 31, 2017. This law
enacts an Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula and comprehensively changes the
way that school districts (defined as Organizational Units in EBF) and other
local education agencies (LEAs), including special education cooperatives
(defined as Specially Funded Units in EBF), receive certain state program funds.
ISBE will engage in a data verification process with LEAs and will not have
final EBF calculations for several months. LEAs will receive estimated
Based Funding Minimum amounts (or in other words, hold harmless payments) until
ISBE has final total EBF calculations.
You are encouraged to review the August 31
State Superintendent Weekly Message
which includes a link to preliminary “Base
Funding Minimum” amounts for each LEA. The Base Funding Minimum is defined
as the amount ISBE distributed in the 2016-17 school year to LEAs for General
State Aid, English Learners (i.e. Transitional Bilingual Education), Special
Education Personnel, Funding for Children Requiring Special Education Services
and Special Education Summer School prior to any adjustments.
The Evidence-Based Funding formula consolidates
and replaces the aforementioned programs that are part of the Base Funding
Minimum into one grant. These five line items are no longer separately
appropriated, beginning in fiscal year 2018. (Please see the ISBE operating
budget at
https://www.isbe.net/Documents/fy18-budget.pdf.)
Specifically for special education, this means
that the 2016-17 Special Education Personnel claims submitted on August 15 will
not be reimbursed. You will not submit a 2017 Special Education Summer
School claim, and districts will not receive any 2018 funding specific to the
Funding for Children Requiring Special Education Services program. All
other special education programs including Special Education Orphanage Regular
and Summer Term, Special Education Private Facility and Special Education Excess
Cost claims are still in place and are due on or before their normal statutory
dates.
Beginning with FY 2018 and thereafter, each LEA
will receive their Evidence-Based Funding payments (or until ISBE has final EBF
calculations, estimated Base Funding Minimum payments) over 22 bi-monthly
payments from August-June. Payments will be distributed and should be receipted
under revenue code 3001-General State Aid on the general ledger until ISBE can
modify the revenue title to “Evidence-Based Funding” in administrative rule.
ISBE will true up these payments once we have final EBF calculations.
ISBE issued the Aug. 10 and Aug.. 20 vouchers to the comptroller on Friday, and
issued the Sept. 10 voucher yesterday. Payments for the remainder of FY 2018
and going forward will resume on schedule.
If you have any questions about the Base Funding
Minimum computations, please contact the ISBE Division of Funding and
Disbursements at 217-782-5256.
Tim Imler
Division Administrator
Funding and Disbursement Services
Illinois State Board of Education
Phone: 217-782-5256
Fax: 217-782-3910