SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan is forming a legislative panel to discuss changes to how Illinois funds its schools.

Madigan says the bipartisan Education Funding Task Force will meet through the spring to craft legislation designed to ensure schools are funded equitably throughout the state. He made the announcement Tuesday.

The panel will be led by House Democratic Leader Barbara Flynn Currie. Panel members will get input from educators statewide. The first meeting will be Feb. 16 at the Capitol in Springfield.

The announcement comes about a week after Illinois Senate President John Cullerton said inequity in Illinois’ school funding formula is the “defining crisis of our time” and an overhaul is a top priority.