THE FOLLOWING IS AN ACT NOW ILLINOIS RELEASE; FOLLOWING UP ON RECENT STORY ABOUT PROJECT SUCCESS OF VERMILION COUNTY LOSING SOME FEDERAL FUNDING FOR GEORGETOWN AREA SCHOOL PROGRAMS
CHICAGO — ACT Now Illinois has formally filed an appeal of the federal decision to discontinue Full Service Community School grant funding, expressing hope that this decision can be reversed before the December 31 deadline. Susan Stanton, executive director at ACT Now Illinois, issued the following statement:
“ACT Now Illinois has formally filed an appeal and request for reconsideration of the federal decision to discontinue Full Service Community School grant funding, and we are hopeful this decision can be reversed before the December 31 deadline. Community Schools were designed to rethink what a school can be – not just a place for lessons and tests, but a place of care. These grants have allowed schools across the country to wrap children and families in the support they need.
“If this decision stands, the impact will be immediate and felt deeply. Thirty-two Community Schools – in urban neighborhoods, rural communities and small towns with already dwindling resources – will lose crucial funding that supports 19,000 children and their families. These schools help working families, many of whom work multiple jobs but are still struggling to make ends meet, are navigating home insecurity or food instability. In rural areas especially, Community Schools are often the beating heart of the community – the place where families turn for afterschool care, health services and even career classes when few other options are nearby.
“This decision also puts approximately 600 teachers and staff at risk of losing their jobs with virtually no notice, just days before the holidays. These are the people who show up for our kids in everyday moments that shape their lives. They help get kids to wellness checkups and dental exams so kids can stay in school. They make sure they have clean clothes, backpacks discreetly filled with food and somewhere safe to go when class ends. They build trust with families so parents feel supported, not judged. When this funding is cut, it doesn’t just affect a program. It will leave gaping holes in the lives of children and families who already carry so much.
“These grants were awarded through a competitive, merit-based process, and schools have met their obligation while delivering measurable results for our kids. Students come to school more often because they feel welcomed. They are able to focus because they aren’t hungry or worried about basic needs. Families are more engaged because schools meet them where they are. Undoing that stability unravels years of trust and progress with devastating consequences.
“We are encouraged by the bipartisan support we have received from leaders at the local, state and federal levels who understand the value Community Schools offer. ACT Now Illinois is committed to working constructively with federal and state partners to ensure these schools can remain open, staff can keep their jobs and our students can continue to be wrapping the care, opportunity and sense of belonging they deserve.”
