Macon Reporter

State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) stated in a press release on her official website that school districts in Central Illinois will welcome almost $125 million in supplementary funding to better address the many difficulties presented by the COVID-19 crisis.

The State Board of Education has teamed up with other state entities to address education concerns. The State Board of Education has created a guide for local school districts in an effort to help them determine how to best use their resources.

Moreover, the guide and other state-related services are completely voluntary, Turner wrote on her website.

“This is major news for Central Illinois, especially for our students and teachers now that the end of the pandemic is in sight,” Turner wrote on Facebook. “I encourage local districts to use this funding to help the most at-risk students. When school districts spend money wisely, they have better outcomes, including higher test scores and increased graduation rates.”

The funding originates as part of the most up-to-date federal COVID-19 relief packs.

“The additional funding will help ensure that students have schools with better facilities and more curriculum options,” Turner stated in her press release. “I would personally like to thank local teachers, parents, staff and students for all of their hard work during this unprecedented time.”