Illinois state Sen. Doris Turner | senatordoristurner.com
Illinois state Sen. Doris Turner | senatordoristurner.com
Central Illinois school districts will receive $125 million in additional COVID-19 funding, Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) said in a March 31 Facebook post.
Most of the funding is coming from the latest round of federal financial COVID-19 relief assistance as part of the American Rescue Plan, which allows schools flexibility in how to use the funding over the next 3.5 years, Turner said in a release.
“This is major news for Central Illinois, especially for our students and teachers now that the end of the pandemic is in sight,” Turner said. “I encourage local districts to use this funding to help the most at-risk students. When school districts spend money wisely, they have better outcomes, including higher test scores and increased graduation rates.”
Approximately 20 Central Illinois school districts Tuner represents will share the $125 million. The largest award, $71.3 million, went to Decatur School District 61.
According to the guidelines set by the American Rescue Plan, schools must use 20% of the funding to address learning loss. The other 80% of funding can be used to address different issues and costs schools have, or are, suffering as a result of the pandemic.
The State Board of Education, along with other state agencies that address the education system, have produced a guide for school districts to help them decide how to use the funds. Schools are not required to use this guide but is in place for those who wish to as the state aims to support local districts recovery.
In total, Illinois received $7 billion to support local school districts across the state.
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