State Disburses Final Payments Owed to Illinois Schools

SPRINGFIELD– The Illinois Comptroller’s Office has informed lawmakers that the final installment of Categorical funds for K-12 education owed to all Illinois public schools for the current 2017-18 school year has now been paid, State Representative Patti Bellock’s (R-Hinsdale) office shared today. This includes $421 million for schools to use on transportation, special education and other programs.

“Illinois schools endured unprecedented hardship during the recent two year state budget impasse,” Rep. Bellock said. “It is good news to share that the State has now caught up on payments owed to schools, allowing us to keep our commitment to K-12 education in the State of Illinois. I look forward to working with our local superintendents and my colleagues in the General Assembly over the next year to make certain that we keep the needs of our students and teachers in the classroom first when it comes to education funding.”

The school funding reform plan passed this summer transfers some of the payments that have been part of the quarterly categorical funding into the General State Aid to school payments that go out twice a month and which are now current. The most recent General State Aid payment of $276 million was sent to schools across the state on Friday, October 20^th.

Representative Bellock serves families and students who live in all or portions of Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Westmont, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Burr Ridge and Western Springs.

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