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Fast Growth Grants Issued to Districts

Following Governor’s Signing of House Bill 766

Springfield, Ill. –Today, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) issued $10 million in grants to 44 Illinois school districts under the Fast Growth Grants program signed into law by Governor Rod Blagojevich on October 8. The grants help school districts meet the expense of educating quickly growing student populations. Schools can use the funds for any purpose.

“School districts seeing rapid enrollment increases need access to dollars to deal with the increased need for books, supplies and teachers,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “I signed House Bill 766 to help schools to quickly respond to those needs.”

"Growth is an ongoing challenge for our district,” Alan Chapman, Superintendent, McLean County Unit District 5, McLean County. “The additional funds provided by the Fast Growth Grants program will help us to meet unbudgeted additional expenses resulting from growth.”

The Fast Growth Grants are part of this year’s $389 million increase in funding for targeted education programs approved by Governor Blagojevich and General Assembly. Since taking office the Governor has increased education funding each year, bringing the state’s commitment to education this year to nearly $800 million over annual funding levels two years ago. In total, Illinois schools have received more than a billion dollars in new funding since the Governor took office.

ISBE issued checks to 44 school districts in Illinois as follows: