Learning Renewal is an initiative from the Office of Governor JB Pritzker to provide education funding through the American Rescue Plan Act to address unprecedented interruptions to classroom learning and development as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) was provided with federal Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Funds (GEERF) II funding to distribute to the community college system in order to implement key aspects of the P-20 Council Learning Renewal Resource Guide.

Illinois Community Colleges developed Learning Renewal plans to support the needs of students. These plans focus on increasing academic and social-emotional supports for students most disadvantaged by the COVID-19 pandemic to address learning disruption, lost skills, and the social-emotional impact of the pandemic. Colleges evaluated the needs of their specific student body and planned programming and support to address both the immediate and long-term needs of the students.

As part of the work to support colleges as they implement varied academic and social-emotional support initiatives, the Illinois Community College Board is partnering with the Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support to provide collaboration opportunities and professional development events.

The Learning Renewal Resource Hub was developed to provide support to community college staff as they implement their Learning Renewal initiatives; however, the purpose of the site goes beyond the timeframe of implementing the initiatives. This site provides research, best practice information, and resources for community colleges as they continue to work to support the academic and social-emotional needs of students. The impact of COVID-19 on the academic and social-emotional development of students continues to be a concern and the information gathered and lessons learned while implementing Learning Renewal initiatives across the state will remain useful long after the grant cycle is complete.