Governor Bruce Rauner says he’s not fond of the method by which pre-kindergarten programs in the state are funded.
Rauner — in Galesburg Wednesday for the opening of the Sibley Underpass on East Main Street — says he feels for the local Regional Office of Education, which was denied state funding this year for Pre-Kindergarten funding under a process through the State Board of Education which made funding competitive every five years.
Rauner tells WGIL that’s not how he wants to see it done in the future.
“I’m very troubled by that,” says Rauner, referring to the fact the Knox, Henderson, Mercer, Warren Regional Office of Education 33 didn’t get funding this year. “I’d like to take a look at that process. I’d also like to come up with additional sources of money, so we can make up for districts like here that lost out on the competitive granting process, to see if we can get them more money. We’re working on that right now.”
Rauner stands by an assertion he’s made — especially as he campaigns for re-election — that he with the help of the Legislature has increased money for K-12 schools. Rauner does say he believes the Pre-K funding process was “rigorous,” and that some districts got more money than others, and that some districts have better pre-K programs than others.
“I do believe we should look at whether some districts who are doing an excellent job lost money that they shouldn’t have lost. I’d like to come up with some additional resources to make up that difference,” says Rauner.
Most districts in the area are having to cut back on pre-kindergarten programs, but Knoxville District 202 found money in its budget to keep its program alive in the next school year. Rauner says if districts like Knoxville are doing good, they should get state help without having to compete for it.
