Tom Cross attacks Dunn’s position to send more money into the formula instead of into categorical assistance. Why? Because that is where suburban districts get most of their cash. Using the example of Palatine that I’ve been using for some time due to comments about the District–Palatine gets about 3% of its funding from the state under the general formula. It gets over 8% of its funding from categorical assistance which John Patterson’s article does a good job describing.
It’s hard to fault Cross for representing the concerns of relatively well off suburban districts, but frankly, the greatest need is in inner ring suburbs and rural areas where an increase in funding of the formula would help the most.
Over time categorical aid has become more significant for two reasons. First, and most legitimately, schools do a lot more than they used to including more special ed, more transportation and more special needs requirements mandated by the feds and state government. Second, relatively well off districts know they won’t get a ton from the general formula, have pushed state reps to put increases in categorical aid instead of the general fund formula.
Patterson’s article is good at pointing out the basic issues and much better than most school funding articles. Kudos for a good job.