Illinois House Panel Votes to Cut Education Funding by 4 Percent

State funding for schools would drop nearly 4 percent under a measure a House committee approved today.

The move comes as House Democrats and Republicans seek to address the state’s finances during a session where they’ve already approved cutting $1.6 billion in health care for the poor.

The key cuts to elementary and high schools amount to about $259.6 million for the upcoming school year, a 3.85 percent drop to an overall level of nearly $6.5 billion for public education.

Rep. Will Davis, chairman of the education appropriations panel, said he was disappointed lawmakers couldn’t find more money to maintain the current year’s spending level.