ACT Now IL Blog

In a devastating blow to nearly 19,000 students and their families across 32 schools in Illinois, on Friday, June 26th, a federal court denied ACT Now Illinois and Metropolitan Family Services’ motion for preliminary injunction and partially granted a motion to dismiss on six of the eight claims filed in the lawsuit. The ruling allows…

ACT Now Illinois and Metropolitan Family Services argued in support of a motion for preliminary injunction today in federal court seeking to block the U.S. Department of Education’s unlawful non-continuation of two Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) grants totaling $18.5 million annually. This hearing marks the next critical step in the coalition’s ongoing legal fight to…

On May 31st, 2026, the Illinois General Assembly passed the FY27 State Budget. Out-of-school time programs matter in Illinois, and this budget reflects that in a meaningful way. For too many families, the hours after the school day ends and the summer months are the hardest times to manage. This budget helps ensure that those hours don’t fall…

April 12th to 18th is Youth Voice Week, and we’re celebrating with a statewide Week of Action. This week is a powerful opportunity to uplift youth voices and advocate for Out-of-School Time (OST) programs. Our goal is bold: engage 1,000 students across Illinois in advocacy in just one week. To kick off our Week of…

Below, learn more about the nominees for ACT Now’s Out-of-School Time (OST) Advocate Award, which recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to champion the importance and impact of out-of-school time programs. Whether through leadership, innovation, or unwavering support, these advocates play a vital role in advocating for OST programs, which enrich the lives of…

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced the release of the FY 2026 After School Programs – Non-School Districts Notice of Funding Opportunity/Request for Proposal (NOFO/RFP) in the IWAS system on August 27th, 2025. This year’s Non-LEA After School Programs grant program is funded at $18 million, a $10 million increase from last year.  …

Susan Stanton, Executive Director of ACT Now, issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s decision to release current FY25 funding for afterschool and summer learning that it had previously chosen to withhold: “After seventeen days of immense bipartisan advocacy, the administration had no other choice but to release the funding for the…

Dear 21st CCLC Advocates,ACT Now has increasing concerns about FY25 federal 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) funding. The bipartisan FY2025 full-year continuing resolution was signed into law by President Trump in March. Annually, State Education Agencies (SEA’s) normally receive allocations for 21st CCLC in April and then receive the actual funding on July 1st. The budget…

Hello Advocates, I wanted to share some updates regarding the FY26 state budget. We recognize the difficult fiscal environment that shaped the FY26 budget and extend our deep appreciation to the many legislative champions and tireless advocates who stood up for afterschool programs throughout this process. Your voices have been critical in ensuring that afterschool…

Yesterday, in Chatham, our worst fears became reality. A place that was meant to be a safe, joyful space for children — an afterschool program where they laughed, learned, and felt protected — became the place of a horrific tragedy. A vehicle crashed into that space, stealing lives, injuring others, and leaving families, staff, and…