GRAYSLAKE – State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is announcing that school districts in the 31^st District will receive more than $90 million in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Overnight, teachers were forced to get creative and find ways to connect and guide their students through the ever-changing battles brought forth by the pandemic,” Bush said. “They did so with little guidance and funding, but with a lot of grace and leadership.”

The funding comes as part of the most recent federal COVID-19 relief packages. Schools, students and parents have overcome challenges that no one could have imagined before the pandemic began, including remote and hybrid learning, digital connection issues, new processes for receiving state and federal aid that normally flow through schools, and more.

Local school districts are set to receive the following amounts:

• Winthrop Harbor SD 1: $799,625
• Beach Park CCSD 3: $4,449,621
• Zion ESD 6: $5,249,246
• Millburn CCSD 24: $546,180
• Emmons SD 33: $257,950
• Antioch CCSD 34: $804,130
• Gavin SD 37: $1,496,092
• Big Hollow SD 38: $1,470,308
• Grayslake CCSD 46: $2,966,400
• Woodland CCSD 50: $5,516,722
• Round Lake CUSD 116: $21,569,241
• CHSD 117: $27,085,963
• Wauconda CUSD 118: $4,504,623
• Warren Twp HSD 121: $3,520,999
• Zion-Benton Twp HSD 126: $8,025,622
• Grayslake CHSD 127: $1,895,910

The majority of the funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, which gives local schools a great deal of flexibility in how they can use the money over the next 3 ½ years. At least 20% of the funding must be used to address learning loss, but beyond that, school districts can use the money to address many different issues and costs. For example, it can be used to better equip schools for safe learning, to prevent layoffs, to address students’ social and emotional needs, to fund summer programs, or to ensure all students have access to reliable Wi-Fi and technology.

The State Board of Education, in collaboration with other state agencies that address education, has produced a guide for local school districts to help them decide how to best use their resources. While the guide and other state-sponsored services are completely voluntary, the state aims to support local districts during this difficult time.

“While the end of the pandemic is in sight, the educational struggles it provoked may linger,” Bush said. “However, I am confident this additional funding will allow schools to move forward in a way that’s best for all students and staff.”

In total, Illinois received nearly $7 billion to support local school districts.