JOLIET – To continue efforts to address structural racial inequality in Illinois, the Senate will hold a joint Education and Higher Education Committee tomorrow.

“As chair of the Higher Education Committee, I've learned that the foundation for successful post-secondary education is built early in one's life,” said Senate Higher Education Committee Chairman Pat McGuire (D-Crest Hill). “Tomorrow's hearing will explore how to provide that foundation for every Illinois child.”

The committee serves as another step in building the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Education is one of four major policy areas the ILBC is targeting this year, along with criminal justice, health care, and economic access.

State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) joined the governor and the state public health director to commemorate the state exceeding 5 million COVID-19 tests since the beginning of the pandemic.

“I was with the governor and Dr. Ezike when he signed legislation that the General Assembly had adopted to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs. That was the day of the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Illinois,” Manar said. “The state has gone from zero to now 50,000 tests. To be able to cross the thresholds that we have crossed as a state despite the challenges is because of the leadership of the governor, Dr. Ezike at the Illinois Department of Public Health, and everybody working together including the National Guard, the 97 local public health departments and our private health care partners throughout the state.”

CHAMPAIGN – School districts in the 52^nd Illinois State Senate District are set to receive nearly $1.5 million in funding to give students in Champaign and Vermilion Counties more reliable access to technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

State Senator Scott Bennett is glad to see area schools receive this assistance to close the digital divide among students in downstate communities.

“During this awful pandemic, it is important that we work diligently to ensure our students are not falling behind academically because they don’t have the technology to actively participate in e-learning,” Bennett said. “As we continue to work to keep our children safe, we also need to ensure they are not missing out on vital learning opportunities.”

Bennett was pleased to see 11 school districts in the 52^nd State Senate District are set to receive support, including:

• Danville School District No. 118 – $322,268
• Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUSD #4 – $81,887
• Oakwood CUSD #76 – $83,123
• Rantoul City Schools School District 137 – $125,286
• Rantoul Township High School 193 – $72,907
• Thomasboro CCSD 130 – $37,607
• University of Illinois Laboratory School – $46,865
• Urbana School District #116 – $266,112
• Westville School District #2 – $100,904
• Safe School- Vermilion County Regional Office of Education – $31,303
• Safe School- Champaign/Ford County Regional Office of Education – $35,023

The Digital Equity Formula Grants, funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, are intended to help schools expand connectivity and provide students with devices like computers or tablets. Funding was distributed using a need-based formula.

For more information about COVID-19 and education, visit isbe.net/covid19.

ELGIN – To help residents obtain tests for COVID-19, State Senator Cristina Castro is partnering with several other government officials and agencies to host a mobile testing site this weekend in Carpentersville.

“Getting tested for COVID-19 remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread, since those who test positive know that they should quarantine to avoid exposing others to the virus,” Castro said. “The testing site we’re sponsoring is open to anyone, and I encourage everyone to stop by and get a test.”

PARK FOREST – State Senator Patrick Joyce is excited to announce that schools in the 40^th Illinois State Senate District are set to receive nearly $2 million in funding to improve local students’ access to technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“E-learning is a new reality for many students during the pandemic,” Joyce said. “This funding will assist schools in giving students the resources they need to take an active role in their studies.”

The funds will be distributed to 14 schools in the 40^th State Senate District:

• Bloom Township School District 206 – $195,442
• Bourbonnais School District 53 – $164,063
• Bradley- Bourbonnais Community High School District 307­ – $143,067
• Bradley School District 61 – $103,252
• Chicago Heights School District 170 – $192,866
• Gardner School District 72C – $38,845
• Gardner-South Wilmington Township High School District 73 – $40,390
• Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233 – $190,530
• Iroquois/Kankakee ROE School District – $37,324
• Kankakee School District 111 – $293,195
• Manhattan School District 114 – $118,740
• Park Forest - Chicago Heights School District 163 –$123,021
• Safe Schools - Iroquois/Kankakee ROE School District – $30,594
• Anne Community High School District 256 – $46,676

The Digital Equity Formula Grants, funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, are intended to help schools expand connectivity and provide students with devices like computers or tablets. Funding was distributed using a need-based formula.

“We must continue to work together to ensure every child, regardless of their zip code, receives the support they need to be successful,” Joyce said.

For more information about COVID-19 and education, visit isbe.net/covid19.

PEORIA – School districts in the 46^th Illinois Senate District are set to receive nearly $2 million in government funding to improve students’ access to digital technology, including more than $700,000 for Peoria School District 150.

“E-learning is playing such an important role as we overcome the COVID-19 pandemic,” said State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria). “I know our local school districts will use these funds to help ensure every student has access to the technology they need to continue their education during this difficult time.”

GRAYSLAKE – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to accentuate inequalities in access to technology throughout Lake County and the entire state, Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is highlighting that 15 Lake County-based schools have been selected to receive part of $80 million to close the digital divide.

“No student should have to miss out on learning because they don’t have the proper technological resources to participate in e-learning,” Bush said. “I am pleased to learn 15 Lake County schools have received funds to close the digital divide and give every student a chance to succeed – regardless of financial situation.”

Nearly 500 schools across the state received a total of more than $80 million to help ensure all students have reliable access to the technology they need for remote learning. The money comes from the Digital Equity Formula Grant, which was funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The grant allocated funding to the highest-need communities in the state to provide important e-learning resources to low-income families.

Schools can use the grant to purchase additional devices and connectivity or to cover purchases made since the onset of the pandemic on March 13.

For more information about COVID-19 and education, visit isbe.net/covid19.

GODFREY – To support organizations working on the front lines against the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) donated 5,000 disposable masks to nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the Metro East.

“The safety of older residents and their caretakers is one of the utmost concerns nationally amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” Crowe said. “As I considered how best to distribute masks, it was important for me to give priority to individuals at the highest risk for infection.”

All nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the 56th District were sent a letter from Sen. Crowe’s office encouraging requests, and the first eight facilities to respond received 625 masks each. The list of facilities includes:

• Burt’s Shelter Care Home in Alton,
• Evergreen Place in Alton,
• Caseyville Nursing in Caseyville,
• Stillwater Senior Living in Edwardsville,
• Asbury Village in Godfrey,
• Morningside of Godfrey,
• Integrity Health Care in Godfrey and
• Fountain View Memory Care in Granite City.

The mask distribution was made possible by Friends of Taiwan and TECO of Chicago.

“Thank you to Friends of Taiwan for the gracious donation and TECO of Chicago for facilitating, as the masks will benefit some of our most vulnerable in Madison County,” Crowe said.

Pictured from left to right: Administrator of Asbury Village Anita Martinez, Sen. Crowe’s grandmother and Asbury resident Eilene Taylor, and State Senator Rachelle Crowe.