Restore money to help schools buy textbooks

Shameful.

There’s no other way to describe Illinois state government’s treatment of education.

The state pays far less than half the cost of public education, contrary to the Illinois Constitution, leaving local property taxpayers to make up the difference.

Legislators pass laws ordering that schools initiate new programs here and new services there, but they seldom provide the money to pay for them.

The state sometimes lags in making its state aid payments, further stressing local school finances.

Added to the litany of shameful decisions is one recently announced by the Illinois State Board of Education. Because of the worsening budget crisis, the Illinois Textbook Loan Program will not be funded this school year.

What it means is that public and private schools around the state won’t receive their share of nearly $49 million to help replace worn, outdated textbooks with new ones.

The program, in place for 35 years, was a bright spot in state government’s relationship with local schools. Alternating each year between grades K-6 and 7-12, the program provided about $35 to $40 a student to each school.

For some hard-pressed school districts, it was the only money they could afford to spend on new books. For others, the textbook grants supplemented local funding.

The result was up-to-date textbooks and better-educated students.

The impact will be felt in the Sauk Valley. Last year, when textbook grants went to grades 7-12, Sterling Public Schools received the most money, more than $57,400. Dixon schools got $54,800, Oregon was awarded nearly $33,000, and Rock Falls High School took in nearly $28,000. Morrison received nearly $21,700, and Amboy got more than $19,500.

For private schools and smaller public schools, the amounts were less, but even several thousand dollars helps.

Now, fewer local students will learn from new textbooks. The quality of their educations will suffer.

That is really a shame.

Something should be done about it.

We encourage the governor and lawmakers to reverse this shameful situation in next year’s budget.

The 2010 legislative session likely won’t address the state’s underfunding of education, its unfunded mandates to local schools, or its late payments.