3 years, 7 months ago by Scott Hardy
CARES Act funding will help districts, students get connected online
Several Western Illinois school districts are getting money from the State of Illinois for new computer equipment.
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education Monday announced that over 470 school districts will get just over $80 million, through the Digital Equity Formula Grant. The money is part of the state's CARES Act funding. Pritzker says in a statement that the money will be used to help districts close the digital divide, and buy more devices and improve their connectivity. A statement says that the Grant gives funding to the highest-need districts in the state, meaning those that are at 70 per cent adequacy or lower. Grant winners include $58,000 to Payson, $63,000 to Liberty and $66,000 to Central School District, all in Adams County. In Pike County, Pikeland Schools will get nearly $94,000, while Pleasant Hill Schools get $45,000 and Western gets $56,000. In Hancock County, Warsaw Schools will get $49,000, Carthage $52,000 and Hamilton Schools will get $60,000.
The state says that nearly 92 per cent of all Illinois students this year will either use remote learning, or are learning in a blended or hybrid environment.
