Dupage Policy Journal

District 21 schools are slated to receive $66.1 million to help resolve issues the education system has endured due to COVID-19, the Naperville state senator said on April 1.

The $66.1 million to aid 11 school districts comes from the $7 billion Illinois received to support schools from federal COVID-19 relief programs.

"I'd like to acknowledge all of the hard work and sacrifice students, teachers, and parents have given for more than a year now," Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) said in a statement on her website. "I'm confident that this funding will help all of us move forward and eventually beyond this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic."

The largest financial award, $13.15 million, will go to Community Unit School District 200. The Benjamin School District will receive $320,266, the smallest amount.

The financial aid, deriving mostly from the American Rescue Plan, is intended to help school staff, students and parents experiencing hardships related to remote learning, effective technological devices, and an internet connection and other state and federal school-related aspects. The fund can also help schools with costs to prevent staff layoffs, support students with their emotional needs and establish summer programs.

Through a collaboration with other state agencies, the State Board of Education produced an optional spending guide to help school districts determine how to use their funds most effectively. The suggestions reflect the state's goal to support the educational system through the pandemic period.

"Schools have made decisions with limited guidance for much of this public health crisis," Ellman said. "This guide can help ensure they maximize the resources coming their way."