Student support and academic enrichment grants

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) received a $58.55 million formula grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education under the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program (CFDA 84.424) for the period July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This funding supports ISBE's administration of statewide initiatives designed to improve student academic achievement by expanding capacity to deliver comprehensive educational services across three primary areas: providing students access to well-rounded education, improving school conditions for student learning, and enhancing technology utilization to advance academic achievement and digital literacy.

Through its pass-through distribution model, ISBE awarded sub-grants to 72 Illinois local educational agencies and school districts, including major recipients such as Chicago Public Schools, Rockford School District Number 205, and Peoria Public Schools, among numerous smaller and mid-sized districts. Sub-awardees used these funds to provide student meals and nutrition services, special education supports, instructional staff and materials for at-risk students, professional development for teachers, technology infrastructure and device upgrades, English learner programming, mental health and social-emotional support services, summer enrichment and tutoring programs, services for homeless students, and COVID-19 response initiatives. The grant operates as a formula allocation distributed to state education agencies for subsequent pass-through to local districts, with recipients required to maintain program records for three years and comply with federal audit requirements under the Uniform Guidance.