The Governor’s FY13 total budget request for Elementary and Secondary Education, excluding Teachers Retirement, equals $9.8 billion, a decrease of $610 million or 5.9% below FY12 appropriations.  In terms of General Funds only, the Governor has requested $6.8 billion which represents an increase of $32 million or 0.5% over FY12 appropriations. 

Following are the notable aspects of Governor Quinn’s request:

General State Aid - Includes $4.4 billion for GSA which is identical to FY12.  This proposal does not indicate what the Foundation Level will be in FY13.  However, for FY12, this appropriation level required a 95% pro-ration of the $6,119 Foundation Level that is set in statute.  The Governor's Budget Office has not indicated that they intend to seek a lower foundation level legislatively; however, it can be assumed that the level appropriation requested by the Governor will require a decrease in the Foundation Level for FY13.  If this change is not made legally, then the Illinois State Board of Education will be required to prorate again.  A good estimate is around 92%, making the effective Foundation Level for FY13 around $5,823 per pupil.  This is $296 or 4.8% below the Foundation Level that is set in statute. 

Mandated Categoricals - Includes $1.8 billion for the Mandated Categoricals, which is identical to the FY12 appropriation.  This amount will fund the Mandated Categoricals, except Regular/Vocational Transportation, at 100% in FY13.  Regular/Vocational Transportation will be funded at 60% without formula changes.

Does not provide any General Funds for the Regional Offices of Education.  In this budget, the ROE salaries and operations are again funded through the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund.  Meanwhile the Governor has requested a 12% increase in the State Board of Education’s FY13 GRF operations.

Early Childhood Block Grant – The Governor is requesting $345 million for the Early Childhood Block Grant which represents an increase of $20 million or 6.2% over FY12.  This funding will be used for expansion although it is unclear exactly how.  Due to lagging state payments to providers (Early Childhood providers have not been paid yet in FY12), there is already a lack of utilization of Early Childhood funds.

The Governor has requested increased funding in the following other GRF areas of the Elementary and Secondary budget:

• Bilingual Education – Requests $66.4 million for Bilingual Education which represents an increase of $3 million or 4.7% over FY12. 
• Student Assessments – Requests $27.4 million which represents a $3.4 million or 14% increase over FY12. 
• Lowest Performing Schools – a new program in FY12, the Governor is requesting an increase of $2 million or 200% over FY12. 
• Teach for America – an increase of $750,000 or 61% over FY12.  This program was first added to the budget in FY11 at $225,000.  With this request, Governor Quinn has increased it $1.8 million or 778% in just 3 short years.