SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is announcing that school districts in the 28^th Senate District will receive $177,711,359 in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Over the past year, teachers and parents have put in thousands of hours of additional effort to keep our kids engaged in learning,” Murphy said. “This funding gives schools and students the support they need to make a full recovery after the pandemic.”

The funding comes as part of the most recent federal COVID-19 relief package. 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 U-46 - $95,027,296
• Schaumburg Community Consolidated School District 54 - $18,762,224
• Community Consolidated School District 59 - $12,435,762
• Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62 - $10,129,759
• Park Ridge Consolidated Community School District 64 - $2,040,685
• Maine Township High School District 207 - $8,389,466
• Keeneyville School District 20 - $2,636,287
• Lake Park Community High School District 108 - $2,333,579
• Township High School District 211 - $13,400,938
• Township High School District 214 - $12,555,363

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.

“Our local schools have the ultimate say in how they use this funding—as they should,” Murphy said. “But, this guide can provide them some direction as they make plans for the future.”

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

BUFFALO GROVE – To give people the opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns and get updates about what’s going on in Springfield, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) is inviting residents to attend the first session of her monthly outreach event series, Coffee & Connect.

“The best part of being an elected official is getting to know the members of the community, but the pandemic has made it more difficult to connect with each other,” Johnson said. “Coffee & Connect will give us a chance to meet and chat safely about how we can work together to make our community even stronger.”

The first Coffee & Connect session will be held Saturday, April 17 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. To participate in the event, register to receive the Zoom link at www.SenatorAdrianeJohnson.com/CoffeeConnect.

Each monthly Coffee & Connect will serve as an open forum for community members to engage in informal conversations with the senator and each other about issues facing the region and the state.

The event is open to any resident of the 30^th District, which includes parts of Waukegan, Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Mundelein, North Chicago, Wheeling, Gurnee, Park City, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Beach Park.

Johnson plans to host Coffee & Connect sessions on the third Saturday of each month. The events will be virtual at first, but may transition to in-person gatherings if conditions allow.

For information on future Coffee & Connect sessions and other upcoming events, visit www.SenatorAdrianeJohnson.com or connect with Senator Johnson on Facebook and Twitter.

PEMBROKE – Residents of Pembroke Township could heat their homes more cleanly and efficiently under legislation from State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex). The measure, which would help bring a natural gas pipeline to the area, cleared the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Thursday.

This legislation would create the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Pilot Program, administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The program would distribute grants for the construction of new natural gas pipelines and infrastructure in Pembroke Township.

VILLA PARK – State Senator Tom Cullerton (D- Villa Park) is announcing that school districts in the 23^rd District will receive about $285 million in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the end of the pandemic in sight, it’s important that districts use these funds to move their schools forward and help uplift students who may have fallen behind,” Cullerton said. “This past year has been hard for students, teachers and parents, but the additional funding to help with the full transition back to the classroom shows them there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

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:

• Addison School District 4 - $8,584,972
• Bloomingdale School District 13 - $899,513
• Community Unit District 300 - $29,746,705
• Community Consolidated School District 93 - $4,501,233
• DuPage High School District 88 - $5,501,213
• Elmhurst School District 205 - $3,102,819
• Fenton Community High School District 100 - $2,367,440
• Itasca School District 10 - $613,740
• Glenbard Township High School District 87 - $9,065,618
• Lake Park Consolidated High School District 108 - $2,333,579
• Lombard School District 44 - $3,560,759
• Marquardt School District 15 - $9,973,316
• Medinah School District 11 - $801,717
• Queen Bee School District 16 - $3,548,467
• Roselle School District 12 - $502,988
• Salt Creek School District 48 - $769,368
• School District 45 DuPage County - $6,489,459
• School District U-46 -  $95,027,296
• Wood Dale SD 7 - $2,058,532

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.

“This funding will provide much-needed relief to local teachers and students who have worked so hard to adjust this past year,” Cullerton said. “I hope schools take advantage of the guide from ISBE to help them navigate how to get back on their feet.”

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

OAKBROOK TERRACE – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is announcing that school districts in the 24th District will receive an estimated total of $30,551,639 in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Thank you, teachers, administrators, students and parents for your sacrifices over the last year to maintain a safe, beneficial learning environment,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Your efforts have saved lives, and it is a relief to see these investments in our local school districts to help our education system recover.” 

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:

• Western Springs School District 101 -  $1,186,905
• Glen Ellyn School District 41 -  $3,595,263
• Lombard School District 44 -  $3,560,759
• Butler School District 53 -  $219,993
• Maercker School District 60 -  $1,779,838
• Hinsdale Township High School District 86 -  $2,921,792
• Glenbard Township High School District 87 -  $9,065,618
• Community Consolidated School District 89 -  $1,741,161
• Westmont Community Unit School District 201 -  $1,702,453
• Lisle Community Unit School District 202 -  $1,675,038
• Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 -  $3,102,819

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.

“An end may be in sight; however, our work to eradicate the pandemic is not over yet,” Glowiak Hilton said. “I encourage residents to continue wearing masks and social distancing. We are strongest when we work together to keep our neighbors and communities safe.”

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

PEORIA– State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) is announcing that Peoria County school districts will receive over $115 million in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Making sure that our educators and our school districts have the necessary resources is absolutely vital,” Koehler said. “Teachers and students have worked together to adapt to a new way of learning, and it is our job as legislators to support them in that endeavor however we can.”

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.

Peoria County school districts are set to receive the following amounts:

• Peoria SD 150 - $98,210,513
• Peoria Heights CUSD 325 - $3,227,140
• Pleasant Valley SD 62 - $4,114,907

With other schools in the county receiving just over $10 million in total.

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’m very pleased that schools in Central Illinois and all across the state will be receiving a much-needed and well-deserved helping hand during these difficult times,” Koehler said.

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

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.