Illinois Gov Pritzker announces $50 million more in emergency funding to help close 'digital divide'

Public schools across the state will receive an additional $50 million from the governor’s emergency education relief fund, Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) announced. The money will go toward closing the digital divide and training educators and families to assist students in using technology. It also will help launch a student care department within the State Board of Education, equipping school districts to support students who’ve experienced trauma. The $3 billion governor’s emergency education relief fund was established as part of the coronavirus stimulus bill. US Department of Education granted the money to governors to support schools during an emergency. Illinois was allotted about $108.5 million from that $3 billion and has one year to award the funds; unspent money will be returned to the federal government.