CHICAGO – Illinois schools will benefit from a nearly $7 billion infusion as part of the federal American Rescue Plan and other federal aid, a move the Senate’s leaders in education policy praised Thursday.

“The state’s initiatives to support our local school districts as they decide how to use this funding come to us from conversations with educators, students and administrators, and they target several concerns that will make a real difference in the lives of our children and the people who are studying in preparation for their careers,” said Senate Education Committee Vice-Chair Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “In particular, early intervention and mental health initiatives have the potential to be an incredibly positive change in the lives of so many families.”

Included in the initiatives the state is suggesting for local districts is a plan for schools to make use of high-impact tutoring, which focuses on providing instruction to students in a way that doesn’t interfere with classroom time and makes use of education majors in college and retired teachers to help provide it. The plan also would allow regional offices of education to work with schools to build up trauma response capacity. School districts will also have access to new tools to help them evaluate their curricula.

ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro is announcing that school districts in the 22^nd District will receive about $157 million in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I want to acknowledge all the hard work students, teachers and parents have undertaken in the last year as we all adjusted to these unprecedented times,” Castro said. “As we begin to transition to what life was like before the pandemic, I encourage schools to use this funding to help students who have been disproportionately impacted over the past year.”

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:

• School District Unit 46 - $95,027,296
• Community Unit School District 300 - $29,746,705
• Township High School District 211 - $13,400,938
• Schaumburg Community Consolidated School District 54 - $18,762,224

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.

“The guide from ISBE was created with input from teachers, administrators, parents and students, and it will be a great resource for schools to rely on as we move forward,” Castro said. “I’m confident this funding for local districts will address stressors schools have faced throughout this pandemic.” 

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

AURORA – State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) announced today that school districts in the 42^nd Senate District will receive more than $120 million in additional funding to go toward the many challenges COVID-19 has presented.

“I’m so grateful to local teachers, parents and students for adapting to a different and challenging approach to learning during the pandemic, “ Holmes said. “Now that we appear to be in sight of the new normal, I’m confident this funding boost will help our students and schools move forward as they get on track to reestablish their more traditional routines.”

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:

• Aurora East School District 131                             $76,454,367
• Aurora West School District 129                           $34,489,096
• Indian Prairie School District 204                          $12,261,096
• Oswego School District 308                                  $10,768,168

Schools in CUSD 308 and the 42^nd Senate District include Brokaw Early Learning Center, Churchhill Elementary, Homestead Elementary, Oswego East High School, Plank Junior High and The Wheatlands Elementary.

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.

“I am particularly pleased this funding addresses the students’ emotional and social needs. They will need time and guidance to readjust, and without that component, their studies may be too challenging,” Holmes said. “This funding can also be used to provide resources to ensure more reliable internet access for students who had little or no access to WiFi to take part in distance or hybrid learning.”

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

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is announcing that Rockford area school districts will receive $229.8 in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For more than a year now, our teachers have put in countless hours to adapt their classrooms to remote learning,” Stadelman said. “This funding gives schools, students and their parents the relief they need to get back on track for this upcoming school year.”

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.

Chicago – State Senator Bill Cunningham is announcing southwest suburban schools within the 18th Senate District are set to receive more than $78 million in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ve been so impressed by how well our students, teachers, and other school staff have navigated the difficulties of the pandemic,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “As we continue our recovery, this funding will give our schools more resources to help their students get on track and return to full-time, in-person learning.”

The funding comes as part of the two 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.

PARK FOREST – State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) is announcing that school districts will receive an estimated $118,495,646 in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Education during the COVID-19 pandemic has been extremely difficult for parents, teachers and students,” Joyce said. “I commend everyone for their hard work this past year to keep kids engaged during this chaotic new normal. I’m confident this new funding will help our students and schools move forward.”

The funding comes as part of the two 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.

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.

FRANKFORT – School districts in the 19th District are set to receive $43 million in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) says this funding will bolster the state’s recovery efforts.

“For just over a year, teachers, students, and parents have worked diligently through less than ideal learning conditions,” Hastings said. “By robustly investing in broadband infrastructure, addressing our students’ mental health needs and retaining quality educators, we can give our kids the ability to grow and jumpstart the state’s recovery process, despite the unfortunate circumstances of the past year.”