Lawmakers must do whatever they can to keep after-school programs afloat. Thousands of young people could lose access to programs because of a costly overspending error by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Around 250 programs across Illinois face the prospect of closure when grants administered by the Illinois State Board of Education expire at the end of June 2024, according to advocates.
Every school day, when the bell rings at Shields Elementary School, more than 100 kindergarten to fourth grade students head to the after-school program inside the Brighton Park school, where they can find homework help, a warm meal and activities ranging from Zumba to Lego club. Run by the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council for the past decade, the program provides Shields families a safe .
After school programs across Illinois poised to close chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Around 250 programs across Illinois face the prospect of closure when grants administered by the Illinois State Board of Education expire at the end of June 2024, according to advocates.