Dear Superintendent Sanders: Illinois Maintenance of Equity Requirements

Summary

Adam Schott, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs, writes to Illinois State Superintendent Tony Sanders on August 31, 2023 to recognize the State's ongoing commitment to the maintenance of equity requirements in section 2004(b) of the American Rescue Plan Act. The letter ascribes Illinois' action to cooperation among Governor Pritzker, appropriators in the general assembly and agency staff, and says data quality efforts, technical assistance and maintained State funding are helping students who faced longstanding opportunity gaps. It expresses interest in continuing implementation work, and Governor JB Pritzker is copied.

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Cite this document

“Dear Superintendent Sanders: Illinois Maintenance of Equity Requirements.” Original at www.ed.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/department-of-education-8-31-2023-used-www-ed-gov-2f7f2a5425-f53f6ca940/, SHA-256 96e57f89037cbff651ad6823f34ff95dfc971d4cf11824327941b27a61572f63.

Full text

                           UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


                                           August 31, 2023

The Honorable Tony Sanders
State Superintendent
Illinois State Board of Education
100 North First Street
Springfield, Illinois 62702

Dear Superintendent Sanders,

I am writing to recognize Illinois’ ongoing commitment to the maintenance of equity requirements
under section 2004(b) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). Knowing the numerous,
competing priorities facing States, State educational agencies, and local educational agencies,
Illinois’ work to implement these new, critically important resource equity requirements is
appreciated. We note that Illinois’ action is a result of cooperative efforts involving Governor
Pritzker appropriators in your State general assembly, and State educational agency leadership and
staff.

ARP maintenance of equity requirements help ensure that State and local education funding
supports students who experienced longstanding opportunity gaps before, and were
disproportionately impacted by, the COVID-19 pandemic. In implementing these provisions
through a mix of data quality efforts, engagement with Department-provided technical assistance,
and maintenance of State education funding for the communities and students who need it most,
Illinois is taking critical steps to accelerate academic recovery and close opportunity and
achievement gaps.

My team looks forward to continuing our work with yours in implementation of maintenance of
equity requirements. Thank you for your collaboration, and all you do for Illinois’ students,
educators, and families.

                                            Sincerely,


                                            Adam Schott
                                            Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs
                                            Delegated the Authority to Perform the Functions and
                                            Duties of the Assistance Secretary
                                            Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

CC: The Honorable JB Pritzker
    Office of the Governor
    207 State House
    Springfield, Illinois 62706

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Our copy: department-of-education-8-31-2023-used-www-ed-gov-2f7f2a5425.pdf
Original: www.ed.gov