AI Literacy and Computer Science Education Funding in Illinois
Curriculum requirements, funding sources, and how Forward Education helps schools meet state standards affordably.
Explore FundingIllinois is a national CS education leader — one of the first states to require all high schools to offer CS courses. SB 1920 (effective Jan 2026) directs ISBE to develop statewide K-12 AI guidance by July 2026. Chicago Public Schools serves 350,000+ students with a structured GenAI integration plan for 2025-26.
| Category | Status |
|---|---|
| AI in Curriculum Standards | See standards alignment section below |
| AI-Specific Legislation | Check state DOE for current status |
| CS Graduation Requirement | Varies by district |
| AI Teacher Endorsement | See state DOE certification frameworks |
| AI Task Force | Check state DOE for current status |
Built for Classrooms. Aligned to Your State.
Top Funding Opportunities
The grants and programs below are relevant to this state. Click any card to read full details, eligibility, and how Forward Education products qualify.
Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (Discontinued)
The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, which funded Solar Schools and other clean energy education programs, ceased operations i...
Read full detailsDuPage Foundation Community Impact Grants – Youth Education Cycle
The DuPage Foundation's Community Impact Grants support education, workforce, and environment programs in DuPage County, Illinois. The fa...
Read full detailsIDEA Illinois Mini-Grants
Illinois Digital Educators Alliance (formerly ICE) provides annual mini-grants to Illinois educators for technology-integrated classroom ...
Read full detailsWater and Environment Grant Program – Illinois American Water
Illinois American Water's annual grant program funds water and environmental education projects at Illinois schools and nonprofits. The 2...
Read full detailsIRTA Foundation Excellence in Education Grants
The Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation provides annual Excellence in Education Grants to Illinois educators for classroom i...
Read full detailsIAITC Teacher Grants – Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom
Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom provides competitive teacher grants for Illinois K-12 educators to create agriculture-themed classr...
Read full detailsSchool District Library Grant Program (Illinois)
Illinois's School District Library Grant Program provides annual grants to school district libraries for technology, materials, and resou...
Read full detailsPerkins V CTE Funding via Education for Employment Systems (Illinois)
Illinois's Perkins V CTE funds flow through regional Education for Employment (EFE) systems to support career and technical education at ...
Read full detailsComputer Science Equity Grant Program
Illinois State Board of Education's Computer Science Equity Grant funds Illinois schools to expand access to quality CS education, especi...
Read full details21st Century Community Learning Centers – Illinois
Illinois State Board of Education's 21st CCLC program funds afterschool and summer enrichment at high-need Illinois schools through feder...
Read full detailsIllinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant
Illinois IDNR's Biodiversity Field Trip Grant funds school field trips to Illinois natural areas for biodiversity learning. The next dead...
Read full detailsIllinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant
Illinois IDNR's Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant funds school campus habitat restoration projects across Illinois. Applications are due De...
Read full detailsPerkins V - Career & Technical Education
Perkins V funds career and technical education - robotics, engineering, and IT pathway equipment are standard uses. Your district's CTE d...
Read full detailsIDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEA funds special education services nationwide - inclusive, hands-on STEM tools that support students with disabilities can qualify und...
Read full detailsTitle IV-A - Student Support & Academic Enrichment
Title IV-A is the federal formula fund built for exactly this: well-rounded education including STEM and computer science, plus effective...
Read full detailsTitle II, Part A - Supporting Effective Instruction
Title II-A pays for teacher professional development - including training on physical computing, robotics, and AI literacy.
Read full detailsTitle I, Part A - Improving Basic Programs
The largest federal K-12 program sends formula money to high-poverty schools every year - STEM kits, robotics, and enrichment curriculum ...
Read full detailsFIRST Team Grant Opportunities
FIRST's team grants page lists live sponsor grants ($500-$5,000 per team) all year - Boston Scientific's FRC grant is open now through Se...
Read full detailsNOAA B-WET (Bay Watershed Education & Training)
NOAA's B-WET program funds hands-on watershed education in seven coastal regions.
Read full detailsNSF STEM K-12 (NSF 25-545)
NSF's new STEM K-12 program consolidated its K-12 education funding into one door - proposals are accepted anytime, with awards from $25,...
Read full detailsDollar General Literacy Foundation Grants
Dollar General's literacy grants fund schools, libraries, and nonprofits near its stores - summer reading grants fit STEM-literacy summer...
Read full detailsLowe's Foundation Gable Grants
Lowe's Gable Grants fund skilled-trades education at scale - up to $1 million over five years.
Read full detailsMotorola Solutions Foundation Grants
Motorola Solutions' annual grants program funds STEM education and first-responder programs, with awards up to $50,000. The application w...
Read full detailsHonda USA Foundation Pillar Awards
Honda's annual funding cycle supports education programs including STEM under its community pillars.
Read full detailsToshiba America Foundation Grants
Toshiba funds hands-on math and science classroom projects, and teachers apply directly - no district sign-off needed.
Read full detailsNeed Help Writing Your Grant?
Securing funding for AI and CS education does not have to be overwhelming. Our team has helped hundreds of schools across the country successfully apply for technology grants.
- Free Grant Application Guide — Step-by-step walkthrough for the most common federal and state funding programs
- Grant Writing Assistance — Our team can review your application draft and provide feedback
- Budget Templates — Pre-built budget justifications showing how Forward Education products fit within grant requirements
- Compliance Documentation — Evidence of standards alignment and student outcomes to strengthen your proposal
Ready to Bring AI Literacy to Illinois Classrooms?
Whether you are exploring curriculum options, looking for funding, or ready to get started — our team is here to help.
