From: IMLER TIMOTHY L [mailto:TIMLER@isbe.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 7, 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