CREATING SMART EDUCATION IN ILLINOIS A first step to turn it around… February 6, 2008 Adam Andrzejewski

This Spring, we will be told once more that Illinois education is in crisis.  We agree.

Again, we will be told that the problem is the Illinois taxpayer.  More funding will be demanded.  Illinois people are generous and want to support education.  But, Illinois taxpayers will ask a single question:  “Has our government earned the right to ask the fiscally-stretched, hard working taxpayer for more taxes?”

The answer to that question lies in the merging of technology with the cooperation and goodwill of the educational establishment.  The Illinois State Board of Education and the 924 school districts in Illinois need to take simple, yet direct action to preserve the public trust:  post the check registers on the internet.  Let the people see where the $20 billion is being spent.

Post the check register on the internet.  Let the citizens see the books.

The disheartening results of Illinois education are transparent and obvious:  eighth grade reading scores have dropped nearly 20% in just four years.  Nearly half of all Chicago high school freshmen drop out before graduation, and 11% of entering Illinois college students will need remedial coursework.  Four years ago (2003), Illinois public school students tested higher than the national average at every grade level.  In 2007, Illinois children scored lower than or equal to the national averages in all but one category.  The results of Illinois public schools listed on the National Report Card point to a deteriorating education institution.

Even though the test results have dropped at a steep and fast pace, the commitment from Illinois families and businesses remains significant:  $20 billion.  Each public school student receives nearly $10,000 in funding!  Education is the second highest ledger item in the budget of Illinois government-- trailing only healthcare.
 
The funding ratios of Illinois education are not encouraging.  Of the $20 billion spent on Illinois education, only $12 billion or 59% of the dollars end up in the classroom with the students.  Conversely, 41% of the education dollar goes to the administration/bureaucracy.  Rather than a legacy of statewide educational performance, the bequest of Illinois is a bloated administration costing $8 billion.  By comparison, $8 billion is so much money that it represents nearly the entire Illinois state income tax paid by citizens ($9 billion)!

Good education choices for families are not forthcoming.  Illinois children have been “wait-listed” by the Illinois legislature.  Charter schools are public schools funded with public monies and run by non-profit companies.  All studies agree that Charter schools are using one-third less money and producing one-third greater performance outcomes.  Yet, these programs are capped by legislative decree.  Unfathomable but true, ten thousand Chicago youth are wait-listed for a Charter school.  By the edict of the legislature, Chicago only has 30 Charter schools.

Open the check register.  Let the citizens see the books.

If the public discovers that education dollars are properly allocated, the public relations benefit that will accrue to the Illinois education establishment will be enormous.  If inefficiencies and excesses are discovered by citizens, then the Illinois education establishment, taxpayers, and the students will be the winners.  Higher education can be the leader in Illinois good government with all stakeholders benefiting.

In the twenty-first century, technology combined with public dialogue is the future efficiency model of private enterprise and public governments.  The 13 million Illinois citizens will generate cost efficiencies and solutions.  The largest companies and the largest governments are implementing this plan.  At the federal level, Senators Barack Obama and Tom Coburn co-sponsored transparency- internet legislation in federal contracting.

In Illinois, no fresh legislation needs to be adopted.  Under current Illinois law, all information is currently “available” to the public by way of the Freedom of Information Act.  The internet just provides ready and ease of access.  There is minimal cost or expense for posting the check registers.  Check registers are electronic documents and only have to be converted into a PDF document.  Posting time to the internet is minimal:  creating the PDF and posting can be accomplished in less than five minutes.

Post the check registers. 

This is a smart step to begin the process to make Illinois education better!

For The Good Of Illinois