Elementary District Organizations (EDO)

The Elementary District Organization (EDO) is a group of 76 elementary superintendents working to improve State and Federal funding for elementary schools in Illinois. EDO’s major focus has been to make funding recommendations to ISBE to improve the financial status of elementary districts. These recommendations include the following:

General State Aid Formula Change:

• Change the calculation rate for each of the elementary school district entities to: $2.10 for Elementary Districts. Presently the level is $2.30
• Increase special education personnel reimbursement for districts from $8,000 per certified special education employee to $12,000 per certified special education employee, with the understanding that full funding or 100% reimbursement will occur.
• Increase special education reimbursement for special education paraprofessionals from $2,500 per special education paraprofessional to $4,000 per special education paraprofessional, with the understanding that full funding or 100% reimbursement will occur.
• Increase the Foundation level funding by a minimal level that is equal to 5% or $250 per year, whichever would be greater. Currently the $135 increase that school districts have received as an increase represents a 3.1% increase, which only slightly exceeds the 2.7% CPI index.

Coattail Recommendation:

• Provide full funding for transportation costs with the understanding that if this is not feasible, school districts would have the ability to assess local resources in the same capacity as they do IMRF or Tort expenses.

EDO- Lobbying Representative

Dr. Robert Kidd, Superintendent
Lincoln Elementary School District #27
100 S. Maple Street
Lincoln, Illinois 62656
217/732-2522