Over $4 Million In COVID-19 Aid Heads To Evanston Public Schools

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston's two public school districts are due to receive more than $4 million in grants through the U.S. Department of Education as a result of the the federal coronavirus relief package approved last month.

The $900 billion Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act provides about $2.25 billion for public school districts in Illinois, more than four times the amount they received from initial round of federal aid to schools, according to Carmen Ayala, the state’s superintendent of education.

Evanston/Skokie School District 65 was allocated $3,017,118, with Evanston Township High School District 202 provided with $1,062,819, according to estimated allocations earlier this month.

Private school districts are set for about $63 per student from a state set-aside, and there would be a further set-aside for non-public schools in a forthcoming round of the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund, according to Ayala.

Public elementary schools in Evanston have been closed to students since March 2020, while private schools have remained open.

The state superintendent recommended administrators put the money toward reducing the digital divide, supplemental learning opportunities and addressing students mental health needs.

"The pandemic continues to take a toll on our students’ mental well-being. I encourage you to invest in greater access to supports and resources for students’ social-emotional health," Ayala told school officials earlier this month.

RELATED: School Reopening Date Set For District 65 As ETHS Remains Remote

District 65 plans to begin offering a hybrid of remote and in-person learning on Feb. 16.

Evanston Township High School administrators announced Thursday the district would begin offering students a safe center for online learning on campus at ETHS for the first time since the pandemic in February.

One of the goals of it's new "in-person experiences" program: "Provide students whose home circumstances require a safe, supervised space in the building daily to participate in Enhanced E-learning." It is set to be the first time since the start of the pandemic that administrators of the approximately 3,600-student district have provided students such a space.

"To mitigate learning loss, consider a longer school year, before/after-school programs, and summer learning opportunities," Ayala told school administrators.

"Begin planning now to reimagine the school calendar and expand the school day to ensure students receive every opportunity to grow."

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