Recently, Governor Pritzker announced Illinois K-12 school districts would be receiving $7 billion in federal funding to support students as they return to the classroom after distance and hybrid learning due to COVID-19.
With this unprecedented level of funding, Pritzker asked education experts to share best practices and recommendations to best support students, including academic and behavioral counseling; out-of-classroom experiences like high-value tutoring, after school programs and summer camps; and creating individualized student profiles to craft the best plans for all students.
Recommendations for the districts were made available online through the P-20 Council’s Learning Renewal Resource Guide. The 180 page guide is filled with ideas from experts and stakeholders from across the state to help school districts renew learning and provide ongoing feedback.
The funding is through the American Rescue Plan, in which Illinois’ education system was awarded more than $7.8 billion in federal pandemic relief funding in total over three rounds of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund program.
Red Bud School District Superintendent Jonathan Tallman noted of the funding, “Our students, community and staff have been remarkably committed to making a difficult year possible and have been incredibly supportive of how we have been able to serve our students.
For more on the ESSER funding, please see this week’s print edition.