Illinois Education Stimulus

Summary

Illinois will receive education-related funding from the American Recovery and Reinvesting Act of 2009 (ARRA), through two principal avenues:

• $3.1 billion to be distributed through the U.S. Department of Education.
• $2.06 billion through the State Fiscal Stabilization Funds. These funds go directly to the governor to use for what they determine to be "critical services" in Illinois. This can include funds to Illinois public colleges and universities and local school districts for financial aid and operating costs. The governor can also direct money from this fund to private colleges and universities to modernize facilities or for other purposes.

Illinois Education Stimulus Breakdown

Higher Education Funds

The educational stimulus package includes a variety of higher education and vocational training funds and grants for Illinois:

• An increase in 2009 Pell Grant funding of $281.7 million over 2008 funds. The 247,000 current Pell Grant recipients in Illinois will receive an increase in the average award for the 2009-10 academic year from $3400 to $3,850.
• An additional $10.1 million for student financial assistance through grants to institutions to assist in the operation of work-study programs under the Higher Education Act.
• $506.5 million for Special Education Part B State Grants to help improve educational outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
• $24.7 million in education technology funds to purchase up-to-date computers and software and provide professional development.
• $525.9 million for Title I Education for the Disadvantaged.

Illinois's higher education students and institutions are also eligible to apply for the following grants funded by the stimulus package:

Community College and Career Training Grants

An institution in Illinois is eligible for only one grant, not to exceed $1,000,000, by demonstrating that it has reached out to employers to identify shortcomings in existing training opportunities within the community.

Teacher Certification and Training

Teacher quality enhancement grants are available to schools and eligible partnerships in Illinois on a competitive basis.

Education and Human Resources

Provides grants for colleges and universities to attract math and science teachers, and grants to improve match and science in K-12 schools.

Health Professional Training Program

Provides funding for the National Health Services Corporation (NHSC), which recruits and trains health professionals to deliver health care in underserved communities in Illinois.

Demonstration Program to Integrate Information Technology into Clinical Education

Provides grants to medical schools and medical related graduate schools in Illinois to carryout demonstration projects and develop academic criteria integrating EHR technology in the clinical education of health professionals.

Education tax credits

The federal education stimulus package also includes the American Opportunity Tax Credit. This modifies the federal higher-education tax credit established in 1997, which benefited middle-income students by offsetting their tax liability. The new credit is “refundable,” meaning that lower-income households in Illinois that have limited or no federal income tax liability can now receive a partial credit in the form of a tax “refund" of up to 40 percent of qualifying expenses for a maximum refund of $1,000. This will potentially benefit 156,000 more students in Illinois.

Stimulus Breakdown (2008 vs. 2009)

City Specific Data - Where the money is going

Glendale Heights Dist. 15/Safety Improvement - Reskin School Glendale Heights Dist. 16/50 Document Cameras For Instructional Areas Glendale Heights Dist. 15/Emergency Intercom System - Reskin School & Winnebago Glendale Heights Dist. 16/Lcd Projectors In 34 Instructional Areas Glendale Heights Hardware For Connection Between Learning Center & District Wan Glendale Heights Dist. 16/Upgrade 36 Bathrooms Glendale Heights 196 Hp Computerers (Or Like), 10 Lcd Projectors & Smartboards For Computer Labs Glendale Heights Dist. 15/Building Renovations - Winnego School Glendale Heights Parking Lot Improvements - 4 Buildings Moline Allendale Retaining Wall Repairs - A Historically Significant Retaining Wall, Built In 1906, Bordering A Historic Structure On A Main City Thoroughfare Is In Need Of Significant Repair To Save The Structure. Moline H.S. Electrical Switchgear Replacement - This Work Replaces Critical Electrical Switchgear On The Main Electrical Service For Moline High School Serving 2200 Students. Moline H.S./Cool Tennis Court Improvements - Providing Proper Maintenance Of Surfaces For These P.E. And Athletic Areas Is A Challenge In Our Colder Climate. These Surfaces Require Repair And Resurfacing To Keep Them Safe For Students. Moline Browning Field Lighting - The Field Lighting Is Inadequate, At Least 40 Years Old And In Poor Condition. This Athletic Field Hosts Football Games, Track And Field Events And Soccer Games For Boys And Girls Athletics. Moline Browning Field West Entrance Improvements - In Cooperation With The City Of Moline And Park Board, An Effort Exists To Provide An Improved Community Park Area Which Adjoins The School District'S Browning Field Complex. Moline Browning Field Restrooms And Concession Stands - Currently The Restrooms And Concessions At Browning Field Are Inadequate For The Number Of Patrons Using The Facility And Offer Very Limited And Poor Quality Handicapped Facilities. Moline H.S. Soccor Field Lighting, Restrooms, Bleachers, Etc. - Competition Facilities Are At A Premium And Scheduling Conflicts Often Occur. The Addition Of These Facilities Will Improve Access For Our 2200 H.S. Students. Moline Throughout, Security Equipment Installations - The District Recently Had A Crises Management Plan Developed And An Audit Of Our Existing Facilities Completed. Recommendations Included Installing Access Control And Monitoring Equipment To Enhance Student Moline Throughout, 21St Century Classrooms - In An Effort To Comply With Initiatives Consistent With Developing 21St Century Classrooms Throughout The District, Technology Enhancements Are Required In All District Facilities. Moline Indoor Air Quality And Classroom Environment Retros - Improvements Included Here Will Provide For Better Educational Environments For All Of Our At Risk Preschool And High School Students As Well As The Entire Population Of One Elementary School Building. Moline Moline High School Heating & Cooling Upgrades - Update Original 1950'S Boiler Systems And Add Geothermal Heating & Air Conditioning To Provide Proper Learning Environment For 2,400 Students. Moline Browning Field Visitor Bleachers And Locker Facilities - Visitor Bleachers Are In Excess Of 30 Years Old, Are Inadequate, Are Not Handicapped Accessible And Do Not Meet Current Safety Codes. Moline Moline High School Community Center - Build A New Community Center To Include 3 Competition Size Gyms, Weight Room Facility, An Indoor Running Track And Olympic Size Swimming Pool. Moline John Deere Middle School Addition - Add On To Existing Middle School To Enlarge Capacity To Include 6Th Graders (Currently Only Housees 7Th & 8Th Grades). Would Allow For Existing Elementary Buildings To Free Up Classroom Space To Lower Class Size Moline Wilson Middle School Addition - Add On To Existing Middle School To Enlarge Capacity To Include 6Th Graders (Currently Only Houses 7Th & 8Th Grades). Would Allow For Existing Elementary Buildings To Free Up Classroom Space To Low Class Size Ottawa Ada Accessability - Replace Failing Wheelchair Lifts At Lincoln And Jefferson Schools Ottawa Security - Provide Phones In Occupied Spaces/Classrooms At All Oes Schools To Enhance Intruder/Disaster Response Ottawa Expand - Construct Oes District Storage To Free Up Space And Alleviate School Building Overcrowding Ottawa Security - Provide Visitor Management, Access Control, And Building Security Hardware Including Anti-Intruder Door Hardware Ottawa Rennovate - Replace Worn And Aged Roofs And Tuck Point Deteriorated Masonry At Lincoln And Jefferson Schools Ottawa Rennovate - Refinish Worn Wood Flooring At Lincoln School, Paint Interiors, And Repair Parking At Oes All Schools Ottawa Classrooms - Construct Classroom Addition At Jefferson School To Alleviate Overcrowding Ottawa Flooded School Replacement - Replace Uninhabitable Oes Central School Flooded On 9/08 With New School Out Of Flood Plain. Provide Classrooms For 5Th And 6Th Grades Who Have None.