English language acquisition: state formula grant program

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) received a $31.1 million Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of English Language Acquisition under the English Language Acquisition State Grants program (CFDA 84.365) for the period July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. As the State Educational Agency (SEA) for Illinois, ISBE serves as the prime grantee and is required to expend at least 95 percent of its allocation through sub-grants to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and other eligible entities that directly deliver services to English learner populations throughout the state.

Under this award, ISBE distributed sub-grants to 52 Illinois school districts and educational entities serving English learner students. The sub-grantees utilized these funds to provide summer school programs specifically designed to address learning needs of English learners, purchase supplemental instructional materials for English learners and their families, conduct professional development for instructional staff on English language instruction and culturally and linguistically responsive teaching practices, and support parent involvement activities. Major sub-awardees included large urban districts such as Chicago Public Schools, Rockford School District Number 205, and DES Plaines Elementary School District 62, alongside numerous suburban and regional districts. This formula-based funding mechanism ensures consistent, predictable federal support for states based on their English learner student populations and enables ISBE to maintain accountability for sub-grantee performance while supporting equitable access to English language instruction across Illinois's diverse school districts.