Lake County Gazette

State Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) recently argued against what he perceives as a bill that could leave public school funding frozen because it was earmarked for a particular group of students who didn't need it.

“Requiring that we lock in a certain amount of money to a certain age group that we’re not entirely sure we’ll actually have enough students to do this could actually create an unwanted restriction of funds in a way that I don’t think is helpful," McConchie said.

McConchie was responding to House Bill 2426, introduced to the floor by Sen. Omar Aquino, which would mandate that at least 25 percent of any new funding that is over or above the previous year’s fiscal allocation for preschool education, parental training, or prevention initiative programs would go to 0-3-year-old children in Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) | http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2284

General education block grants and educational services block grants have been awarded every fiscal year by the State Board of Education to school districts with more than 500,000 people since 1996, according to HB2426.

According to the measure, the increase in state funding for CPS infant and toddler programs would “supplement, not replace the previous fiscal year’s funding.”

According to Aquino, advocates say it’s important to provide a nurturing environment for learning during a child’s first three years.

“The earlier we can get kids into an educational environment, the better outcomes will be for them later on,” Aquino said.

This bill applies to funds distributed by the state and the Chicago's school board.

McConchie encouraged a "no" vote, but the bill passed 38-13 and was sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner.