Agenda for ‘Follow the Money: Workshop for Illinois Reporters on Covering COVID-19 Relief for Schools’
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
This agenda is tentative and subject to change. All times are CST.
Note: All sessions will allow ample time for questions from journalists.
9:00 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
9:05 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
The federal government has allocated billions of dollars to schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. What does that mean for Illinois? Officials from the state board of education explain what’s at stake and what the state hopes to accomplish. They also discuss key developments and milestones as the state itself and local districts spend relief dollars for education recovery.
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
The school districts you cover are flush with federal cash, thanks to several rounds of COVID-19 aid from Washington. But what are the rules for how and when it can be spent? How can you tell if districts are meeting those obligations and spending in ways that benefit students? An expert explains the ins and outs of the law and an investigative journalist shares tips gleaned from her own reporting on the subject.
11:00 a.m. – noon
While the majority of federal relief funds are flowing through local school districts, a portion was set aside for each state. Learn about state-level initiatives in Illinois touching on learning recovery, social and emotional learning and postsecondary success.
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Superintendents discuss how they plan to spend these new funds and the challenges associated with them, from avoiding recurring expenses that will create a fiscal cliff in the future to adapting to address the latest pressing problems caused by the pandemic.
Your post will be on the website shortly.
We will get back to you shortly