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 “I’ve said time and time again, our decisions must
follow the science and the science says our students can’t go back
to their normal routine this school year,” said Governor JB Pritzker.
“Over the last month, Illinois’ schools have stepped up and faced
the many challenges of COVID-19 with generosity, creativity, and a
resolute focus on caring for students, parents and communities. I am
confident that our schools will manage and expand the learning
opportunities for all our children who will be working from home
over the coming weeks.”
Governor Pritzker has continued to work with the Illinois State
Board of Education (ISBE) to identify and provide the flexibility
that school districts need to address the challenges of the COVID-19
pandemic. Illinois will receive approximately $569 million in
federal funding for prek-12 schools, as part of the Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funding can help
equip students with technology and internet access to enhance remote
learning, support teachers in developing their remote instruction
skills, and assist schools in continuing to provide meals to
children and communities.
Each public school district will receive CARES Act funding
proportional to the number of low-income students they serve. ISBE
also will receive CARES Act dollars as the state education agency.
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala has committed
to directing CARES Act resources toward tackling the digital divide
in Illinois’ least-resourced districts, as part of a strategic
effort that will continue beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Illinois has taken advantage of other federal waivers and
opportunities to help schools meet the need of Illinois’ families.
ISBE secured the waiver early on to allow schools to serve meals in
creative ways outside of school. ISBE has worked with the Illinois
Department of Human Services to prepare for the implementation of
the Pandemic-EBT, which will supply families with additional funds
for purchasing food during the crisis. ISBE also secured waivers to
allow schools to carryover federal funds for low-income students to
support their transition back to classroom this fall.
“Our school buildings may be closed, but the hearts and minds of our
teachers and students are wide open,” said State Superintendent of
Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “This pandemic has altered the fabric
of how we teach, learn, and connect, but it has not shaken the core
of what our schools do, which is take care of Illinois’ children and
prepare them for what’s next. Our schools focus on social and
emotional skills, like resilience and empathy, for this very reason:
so that when the unpredictable events in life knock us down, we get
right back up. The Illinois State Board of Education is addressing
the digital divide head on and planning for the transition back to
school in the fall to help our students and educators face and
overcome the challenges ahead.”
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“Students and families are experiencing loss and
grief right now. Their lives have been completely upended, and
schools are a valuable resource to help students and their families
cope with this sudden transition into the unknown,” said Dr. Donna
Leak, Vice Chairperson of the Illinois State Board of Education and
Superintendent of Community Consolidated Schools District 168.
“Throughout this process, I have spent time collaborating with
fellow superintendents to share thoughts, ideas, and provide support
to one another as we navigate unchartered waters. We will all be
prepared to meet the demands of our communities with today’s
announcement and continue to find creative and innovative solutions
to support our families into the future.”
Each public school district in Illinois has developed and
implemented a plan to ensure all students have access to instruction
and to their teachers during Remote Learning Days. ISBE convened an
advisory group of teachers, superintendents, and students to develop
comprehensive Remote Learning Recommendations for all grade levels,
including suggestions on grading, content selection and delivery,
social-emotional development, and communication with families. The
recommendations are available in English, Spanish, Polish, and
Arabic at www.isbe.net/covid19.
ISBE has encouraged each school to determine a local method of
taking attendance or checking student engagement. Daily virtual
contact with students helps teachers understand when students may
need additional support with assignments, meals, mental health, or
other needs. ISBE also will release recommendations to schools to
address learning loss and students’ social-emotional needs when
students transition back to in-person instruction.
The governor also waived the edTPA and student teaching requirement
for educator candidates who have completed all other requirements
for licensure. These and other emergency changes to educator
licensure will ensure that the COVID-19 does not impact local school
district’s ability to hire qualified educators they need to support
students.
Lastly, the governor and his administration amended graduation
requirements for high school seniors, in recognition of the impact
of the COVID-19 crisis on their final semester. For example, current
high school seniors may graduate without the normally required
participation in consumer education and physical fitness assessment.
[Office of the Governor JB Pritzker] |
