Duckworth, Durbin Urge Restoration of Federal Grants for Illinois Community Schools

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin joined colleagues last week in urging the Department of Education to restore $168 million in Full-Service Community Schools grants for Illinois and 11 other states. The senators said cutting the funding in the middle of the school year threatens programs that provide students with academic support and connect families to food, housing, and health services. The grants, generally authorized for five years, help schools plan stable, community-based services, and their abrupt termination puts ongoing programs at risk. Duckworth and Durbin said the Department has provided little explanation for the cancellations and called on officials to reinstate the funding to maintain essential services for students in underserved Illinois communities.