Casten Applauds Millions in Coronavirus Emergency Funds For Illinois Education
Downers Grove, IL – U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) announced that Illinois will receive $108 million in emergency education funding through the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund and $437 million in emergency funding for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. The funds were made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that Casten supported.
Through the CARES Act, $3 billion was allocated directly to states to provide relief to K-12 institutions as well as higher education needs. Illinois institutions of higher education will receive $218 million for emergency financial aid to students.
Casten said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to many industries and institutions, including our K-12 schools and colleges. I'm relieved to see this funding going to Illinois schools so we can ensure that our hardworking teachers are supported and that our students have what they need: Remote learning resources, enough to eat, and a place to live."
Local colleges and universities in the 6th District receiving funding under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund through the CARES Act:
- Chamberlain University: $8,007,329
- College of DuPage: $9,100,886
- Harper College: $5,526,516
- Elgin Community College: $4,600,718
- McHenry County College: $2,254,053
- Midwestern University: $2,255,126
- North Central College: $2,410,282
- Wheaton College: $2,023,744
Casten recently wrote a letter to House Leadership advocating for additional resources for our educational institutions. Specifically, the letter calls for flexibility with delivering education to students with disabilities and increased funding to local educational agencies, both to address the present challenges of remote learning and to insulate them against impending state and local-level budget cuts as the economy contracts.