Will County Gazette

Will County public school districts are receiving millions of dollars that are part of the American Rescue Plan.

School districts are given notable flexibility on how they decide to use the money over the next three-and-a-half years, according to a news release published by Shaw Media.

The press release states that at least 20% of the funds must be used to address widespread learning losses due to the COVID-19 crisis. However, districts can use funds for other concerns and costs like limiting layoffs, funding summer plans or assuring all students have a sufficient Internet network connection all across the districts.

“Over the course of the last year, teachers, students, and parents have gracefully made the best of an impossible situation,” said state Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Joliet), a former teacher, in a press release. “Every single one of them deserves a tremendous amount of credit for their perseverance. This funding will allow us to address difficulties that plagued our school districts last year and effectively plan for the future.”

"The millions of dollars our school districts received from the American Rescue Plan will: Give school districts the ability to address financial difficulties, prevent teacher layoffs and allow us to effectively plan for the future," Cappel wrote in a Facebook post. For a full breakdown of funding coming to 49th District schools click here.