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State Updates
Illinois State Board of Education December Meeting Recap
On December 13, 2023, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) met for its monthly Board meeting. To access the recordings and meeting materials, click here. ACT Now provided public comment on the ongoing 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) funding crisis. ACT Now also announced the recent Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) award of $94 million to the state over the next five years and emphasized the intent of partnering with ISBE to initiate and expand the community schools network in Illinois. Other public comment topics included funding increases for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025 budget as well as concerns over the state’s literacy and assessment plans. The Board then recognized Chris Lowe as the 2023 Thomas Lay Burroughs Award recipient.
Members turned their attention to a presentation on Illinois’s revenue projections for FY25, in which there was projected slower growth of the economy and a reminder that much of the federal COVID-19 relief will expire at the end of FY24. ISBE noted a record high for budget hearing participation for FY25 and that year over year the budget ask amounts have increased dramatically. This is partly due to the sunsetting of funding for many ESSER-funded projects. The following indicates the top five funding requests seeking additional funding:
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SEL Hub/Reach - $18 million in new funds (currently leveraging ESSER dollars)
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Evidence-Based Funding - $200 million increase over current funding amount
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Agricultural Education - $2.95 million increase over current funding amount
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Community Learning Centers - $50 million in new funding to support 21st Century programs and community schools
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Early Childhood Education - $75 million increase over current funding amount
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Regional Offices of Education Services - $948,500 increase over current funding amount
The Board also received information on how member initiatives and funding requests have grown year over year. Board members also elevated the need to fund the Career and Technical Education grant program. Overall, ISBE would have to receive $600 million in additional funding to accomplish the goals of the agency in funding current and new programs for FY25.
The Board then heard presentations on the state’s Perkins V Plan (there will be a public comment period in the upcoming months), and the enhancements made to the My Data Dashboard. Board members approved all the items on the consent agenda, including the release of the Request for Proposal for the FY24 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Stronger Connections grant program. The Board also reviewed the legislative agenda for the spring session.
The next ISBE Board meeting will take place on January 24, 2024.
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