How the Illinois State Board of Education reimburses school districts for certain costs of district driver education programs

 

The Illinois State Board of Education reimburses school districts for certain costs of district driver education programs.  Section 27-24.4 of the School Code contains the driver education reimbursement formula.  The base reimbursement amount is calculated annually by the Illinois State Board of Education.  The calculation takes the lesser of the driver education appropriation or the accumulated amount in the driver education fund (less necessary administrative funds) and divides this amount by the total of (a) the number of students who have completed classroom instruction for whom valid claims have been made times 0.2 plus (b) the number of students who have completed practice driving instruction for whom valid claims have been made times 0.8.

The amount of reimbursement to be distributed on each claim is 0.2 times the base reimbursement amount for each validly claimed student who has completed the classroom instruction part plus 0.8 times the base reimbursement amount for each validly claimed student who has successfully completed the practice driving instruction part.  Reimbursements cannot exceed a district’s program costs.

Sample computation:

$15,750,000 (appropriated driver education funds estimated to be available for

distribution)

148,000 classroom pupils times                0.2 =   29,600

138,000 practice driving pupils times       0.8 = 110,400

Total (estimate)                                                   140,000

 

$15,750,000 divided by 140,000 =   $112.50 Base

                                                Reimbursement Rate

Amount per pupil (classroom) =      $112.50 times 0.2 =       $22.50

Amount per pupil (practice driving) = $112.50 times 0.8=    $90.00

The Fiscal Year 1997 appropriation for Driver Education reimbursement was $15.75 million.  The Illinois State Board of Education makes payments as funds accumulate in the Driver Education Fund from Secretary of State license fees and law enforcement citations.  An additional $765,000 has been appropriated to administer the program.

Subject to Illinois State Board of Education rules and regulations, a school district may charge a reasonable fee, not to exceed $50, to students who participate in a driver education course.  If a student is unable to pay, the student fee may be waived.

For program information, call the Secondary Education Division at 217/782-2826; for reimbursement information, call the Funding and Disbursement Services Division at 217/782-5256.

 

 

DRIVER EDUCATION FUNDING

 

School Year	Amount Appropriated (Millions)	# C.R. Students	# B.T.W. Students	$ C.R./ Capita	$ B.T.W./ Capita	$ Total/ Capita
1976-77	10.3	211,600	194,077	30.08	90.00	120.08
1979-80	10	190,888	171,266	37.80	117.15	154.95
1982-83	15	163,866	152,380	18.11	72.44	90.55
1985-86	14	157,811	142,887	28.86	115.44	144.30
1988-89	20	136,107	130,789	21.67	86.68	108.35
1991-92	15	133,115	125,297	23.64	94.56	118.20
1994-95	15.75	124,183	124,654	25.36	101.24	126.60
1996-97	15.75	148,000	138,000	22.50	90.00	112.50

 

Variables:       1) number of students

            2) amount deposited and appropriated

 

Note:  new information

 

The Driver Education Fund is populated by driver fines and fees imposed by county offices and the Secretary of State. However, the Illinois State Board of Education is limited in our authority to distribute reimbursement to school districts based upon the appropriation provided by the General Assembly each year. This year (2008) the driver education grant appropriation was $17,929,600.

Appropriation Information –

 

Fiscal Year	Appropriation	Grants	Administration	Change
2008	$18,082,000	$17,929,600	$78,600	$82,000
2007	$18,000,000	$17,929,600	$70,400	$2,186,200
2006	$15,813,800	$15,750,000	$63,800	($16,900)
2005	$15,830,700	$15,750,000	$80,700	($69,300)
2004	$15,900,000	$15,750,000	$150,000