The Illinois State Board of Education is awarding more than $86 million to school districts to help students and teachers recover from various issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The board's director of wellness Cara Wiley said the grants will pay for a variety of services, including mental health screenings, fitness activities and substance abuse programs for students and staff.
"We're really looking at how do we best meet their academic needs, as well as partnering with behavioral health providers to meet those needs that are beyond the school walls," Wiley said.
Wiley said the grants will also help create long term support services for students and teachers.