December 20, 2022 – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has launched a new spending dashboard to provide the public with an easy-to-use tool showing how Illinois is using federal pandemic relief funds. The state received nearly $8 billion through three rounds of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding to support students’ recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The dashboard, available on ISBE’s website, allows users to view funding allocations and real-time updates on spending pertaining to each of the three federal pandemic relief grants: Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act ESSER (ESSER I), Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act ESSER (ESSER II), and American Rescue Plan ESSER (ARP ESSER). Illinois has been highlighted as a national leader for its transparent and up-to-date reporting of the federal pandemic relief funds.
“As we continue addressing the impacts of the pandemic, these funds are providing an unparalleled opportunity to transform systems of learning in Illinois that are more equitable, more inclusive, and more responsive to student needs,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “We are committed to being transparent about how these funds are being used as districts strategically accelerate student learning and support the social-emotional recovery of students.”
Ninety percent of relief funding flowed directly to districts. The third and largest round of funding, the American Rescue Plan, included a stipulation that required school districts to solicit local stakeholder input to inform their spending and make spending plans publicly available. The dashboard allows users to filter funds by each of the three rounds of ESSER and the district or entity receiving the funds to get detailed information on expenditures.
The remaining 10 percent are state set-aside funds directed by ISBE. ISBE invested $300 million in formula-based funding to all school districts and other entities, including special education cooperatives, to support evidence-based interventions that address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on certain groups of students.
Other state-led initiatives include grant programs to close the digital divide, implement high-impact tutoring to address learning gaps, fund seven social-emotional learning hubs to support schools with data-driven strategies to address student trauma and mental health needs, and support mental health community partnerships. More information on ISBE’s learning renewal programs is available on the ISBE website.
Access the dashboard on ISBE’s website and view a virtual tutorial of the dashboard here.
