A group of lawmakers has agreed on a framework for making the way Illinois funds its schools more equitable. But whether it will lead to a long-elusive legislative fix remains to be seen. That bipartisan commission produced a “framework” Wednesday, but no actual legislation. It would create funding targets for each district based on student population needs. It's estimated to cost an additional $3.5 billion to $6 billion.

 A group of lawmakers charged with revamping Illinois' property-tax-reliant school funding formula has been meeting since summer, facing a deadline of February 1 to come up with an alternative. But the group isn’t moving fast enough for State Senator Andy Manar of Bunker Hill in Macoupin County. He’s the leading Democrat on the commission. He’s also considering running for governor.