Illinois: Arts and Foreign Language Education Grant

Since the Arts and Foreign Language Education Grant Program was legislatively established in 2006, the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) and Illinois State Board of Education—which administer the program through a joint commitment to well-rounded education—have helped nearly 100 school districts around the state integrate arts and foreign language education into their core curricula. The program offers multiyear awards to public schools, including charter schools, public university laboratory schools and vocational centers. One-year planning grants of up to $40,000 underwrite efforts to develop strategies for initiating, strengthening or expanding arts or foreign language instruction. Grantees may subsequently apply for a three-year implementation grant (of up to $100,000, $75,000 and $50,000, respectively, for each of the years) to realize their plan to expand and enhance student learning. The intent of this seed funding is to build and bolster infrastructure that continues to support strong arts and foreign language education after the conclusion of the grant period. To date, the program has funded new faculty positions, professional development, curriculum design and assessment, arts and music supplies, and teaching residencies. Grantees have reported increases in student participation, cross-curricular faculty interaction and community engagement. To learn more, contact IACA Program Director Jerome Grand.