Estimated Illinois Property Value, 2006–2013
Illinois lost nearly 40% of its estimated equalized property value between 2007 and 2012 — weakening the local tax base that schools depended on.
Illinois General State Aid Funding, FY2006–FY2013
State aid peaked in 2009, then fell sharply — leaving districts to absorb cuts exactly when local property tax revenue was also declining.
SB16 created a statewide pattern of winners and losers
Districts with the most English Learners — students who need the most support — faced the steepest projected cuts, up to 92% of their state funding.
North Palos was caught in the middle-class trap
The district ranked near the top of the state for student need and projected funding loss — yet squarely in the middle for family income. SB16's formula couldn't tell the difference.
Data turned concern into organized advocacy.
The goal was not to stop school funding reform — it was to make sure reform was fair.
How EBF Builds North Palos' Adequacy Target
EBF calculates what each district genuinely needs to educate its students. For North Palos, that target is $55.5M — built from core investments, student need, and supports for English Learners and special education.
Evidence-Based Funding drove sustained growth in annual funding
Instead of losing 90% of its state funding under SB16, North Palos' annual funding reached $30.6M by 2026 — 5.3× the 2014 level.
Property taxpayers are no longer carrying the load alone
EBF shifted North Palos' funding mix from 83% property taxes to 63% state funding — and the district passed the savings along, providing $20M in cumulative property tax relief from 2020–2026.
Evidence-Based Funding created room to invest in our buildings.
North Palos invested approximately $90.8M in building expansions and modernizations from 2017–2026 — without issuing bonds or raising taxes.
A Tradition of Excellence: Blue Ribbon Recognition
Six National Blue Ribbon Awards — the highest federal recognition for school quality — earned by North Palos schools that serve among the highest shares of English Learners and low-income students in the state.
