Some community organizations that depend on state money to provide after-school and summer programs for thousands of low-income children in Chicago say they’re upset with how long it’s taken the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to issue a request for proposals for millions of dollars in 21^st  Century Community Learning Centers funding.

As a result of the continued uncertainty, they say they’re scaling back or cutting their offerings in the coming months.

“I’ve been talking with people every day, sitting down with principals, families, who don’t know what they’ll do this summer,” says Melissa Mitchell, executive director of the state’s Federation for Community Schools. “I’m just not clear on how this isn’t something that gets priority when it’s money that could go out to communities that need it. These are federal dollars that aren’t part of the machinations in Springfield.”

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