Sorensen Announces Investment to Expand Education Access in Rural Illinois

PEORIA, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are announcing $602,799 for the Regional Office of Education (ROE) #26 to expand distance learning opportunities to students in rural communities. 

“Creating opportunities for our neighbors who live in our rural communities remains a top priority for me,” said Sorensen. “This investment from USDA is going to connect more students to the classroom, make sure they have the resources they need to learn, and prepare them for future success.” 

"Our office is always looking for better ways to serve the schools and students in our area. This funding provides our office and the schools we serve with another tool to combat the ever-growing teacher shortage. We will also be able to harness these dollars to expand our remote counseling services and our professional development training for school personnel," said John Meixner, Regional Superintendent of Schools for Regional Office of Education #26. 

This award comes as part of USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program and will equip places in McDonough, DuPage, Warren, Fulton, and Iroquois Counties in Northern Illinois with distance learning equipment to expand educational opportunities to more students in the region. 

The distance learning funding will allow Instructors at Transformative Growth Counseling and institutions from the Rural Illinois Shared Education Network Illinois to deliver mental health and substance abuse prevention education and counseling to 7 locations benefitting 2,580 individuals. 

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal. 

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