ISBE Announces $7.5 Million to Assist Fast-Growing Districts

43 Districts Receiving Additional Funds to Cover Needs of Growing Student Populations

[January 28, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois State Board of Education announced Friday that $7.5 million in fast-growth grants will be distributed to 43 districts around the state for the 2007-2008 school year. The grants are given to help districts meet the needs associated with quickly growing student populations.

"Fast-growing school districts can face unique challenges as they scramble to ensure they have enough staff, supplies and materials for new students," said Christopher A. Koch, state superintendent of education. "This money offers districts much-needed assistance to deal with a rapidly expanding student population."

The fast-growth grants are part of the historic $560 million increase in education funding initiated by Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and approved by the General Assembly for fiscal 2008. During fiscal 2008 the foundation level for education increased by $400 per pupil to $5,734. In addition, Blagojevich used his amendatory veto power to correct a glitch in the budget implementation bill, allowing for an additional $50 million to be paid to schools during the fiscal year to reimburse special education expenses. The special education personnel reimbursement rates to schools were increased in fiscal 2008 for the first time since 1985 -- an increase of $1,000 for certified personnel and $700 for noncertified personnel.

Public school enrollment in Illinois increased steadily from 1,951,998 in 1998 to 2,077,856 in 2007. In the last decade, student enrollment increased by 125,858, or 6.4 percent. During that same time, the number of school districts in Illinois has dropped from 900 to 871.

Other Illinois enrollment facts:

• The average school size increased nearly 6 percent, from 505 in 1998 to 534 in 2007.

• Students who are black, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander, Native American, or from multiracial and ethnic groups make up 45.1 percent of the enrollment in 2007, up from 37.5 percent in 1998.

• The number of low-income students increased by 4 percent during the past decade, from 36.3 percent in 1998 to 40.9 percent in 2007.

Fast-growing districts often find themselves with more students than resources. They may not have enough classrooms and materials or may have to hire additional faculty and staff to meet the increasing student demand. The grants can be used to pay for salaries, books, computers, supplies and classroom materials.

School districts are eligible if during the two most recent school years their enrollment has increased by greater than 1.5 percent for districts with more than 10,000 students or greater than 7.5 percent for districts with an enrollment under 10,000.

The 43 school districts receiving the grants are:

• Plainfield School District 202 -- $1,624,493

• Oswego Community Unit School District 308 -- $819,394

• Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204 -- $538,447

• Huntley Consolidated School District 158 -- $499,858

• Yorkville Community Unit School District 115 -- $431,822

• Community Unit School District 300 -- $400,941

• Valley View CUSD 365U -- $318,769

• Minooka Community Consolidated School District 201 -- $300,287

• McLean County Unit District 5 -- $280,233

• Aurora East Unit School District 131 -- $203,312

• Plano Community Unit School District 88 -- $203,304

• Central Community Unit School District 301 -- $202,652

• Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 -- $201,499

• Berwyn South School District 100 -- $185,391

• Minooka Community High School District 111 -- $139,836

• Lansing School District 158 -- $124,540

• Hononegah Community High School District 207 -- $118,834

• Midlothian School District 142 -- $116,019

• Fremont School District 79 -- $106,360

• Big Hollow School District 38 -- $88,628

• Beecher Community Unit School District -- $63,135

• Prairie Hill Community Consolidated School District 133 -- $62,156

• Nauvoo-Colusa Community Unit School District 325 -- $52,474

• Central School District 51 -- $51,154

• St. George Community Consolidated School District 258 -- $35,798

• Fisher Community Unit School District 1 -- $35,600

• Anna Jonesboro Community High School District 81 -- $34,075

• Salt Creek School District 48 -- $30,591

• Dwight Township High School District 230 -- $28,536

• Smithton Community Consolidated School District 130 -- $27,413

• Sandridge School District 172 -- $23,066

• Waltham Community Consolidated School District 185 -- $19,105

• Woodlawn Community High School District 205 -- $16,541

• Bradford Community Unit School District 1 -- $16,040

• Ashley Community Consolidated School District 15 -- $14,454

• Grass Lake School District 36 -- $14,204

• Deland-Weldon Community Unit School District 57 -- $13,657

• North Wamac School District 186 -- $12,367

• Robein School District 85 -- $11,920

• Farrington Community Consolidated District 99 -- $9,241

• Armstrong Township High School District 225 -- $8,870

• Cypress School District 64 -- $7,512

• Hollis Consolidated School District 328 -- $7,466

[Text from Illinois State Board of Education file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]