ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — State Senator Ann Gillespie announced seven school districts in the 27th District have received more than $38,000 to provide resources to libraries through books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs.
“School libraries play a pivotal role in shaping students’ academic and personal development,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “This funding will empower our schools to provide a diverse range of materials to better equip our youth for the future.”
Based on a statutory formula, school districts receive $0.885 per student enrolled at each school with a qualified library. Funding for the School District Library Grant Program originates from the General Reserve Fund and is appropriated for this purpose by the Illinois General Assembly.
The following school districts in Gillespie’s district received a total of $38,486:
- Arlington Heights School District 25 - $4,099
- Mount Prospect School District 57 - $1,785
- Palatine Community Consolidated School District 15 - $8,978
- Prospect Heights School District 23 - $1,127
- River Trails School District 26 - $1,256
- Township High School District 211 - $10,748
- Township High School District 214 - $10,493
The grants, awarded once every fiscal year, will support school library services for over 1 million students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade across the state.
“By investing in books and technology, we are laying the foundation for a well-rounded education that will benefit our students for years to come,” said Gillespie. “I look forward to seeing how our schools utilize these grants to enhance their current resources.”
For a full list of libraries that received funding, visit the Secretary of State’s website.
