Waukegan Public Schools is one of several hundred school districts across the state to be awarded additional funds to help close the digital divide among students through the State's Digital Equity Formula Grant.

Gov. Pritzker’s office announced today that 471 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) will receive a total of $80,092,677 through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. District 60’s share of the grant is $919,196.

The Digital Equity Formula Grant allocates funding to the highest-need academic institutions (those with an Evidence-Based Funding Final Percent of Adequacy of 70 percent or lower in fiscal year 2020 or FY 2021) in the state as a way to help ensure students have equitable access to technology and learning opportunities during remote instruction. 

LEAs may use the grant to purchase additional devices and connectivity or to cover purchases made since March 13, 2020. Since March, District 60 has purchased approximately 3,500 Chromebooks and 2,000 personal hotspots, to ensure students have the tools they need to be successful during Remote Learning. 

A full list of grantees and award amounts can be found here.