SPRINGFIELD - A number of south suburban school districts have been selected to receive funds through Secretary of State Jesse White’s School District Library Grant Program. The program aims to help provide more library books and materials for students attending public schools in Illinois.

The grant award amount is based on funds appropriated by the General Assembly and the school’s official enrollment as of the previous school year.

“Our children can never have enough opportunities to learn,” State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) said. “I am glad this grant program is providing support to school libraries throughout the south suburbs.”

The following west suburban schools are receiving funds:

The Dotcom-Monitor Women in Computing Scholarship is open to female students currently enrolled as full-time undergraduate students at an accredited college or university in the U.S. or Canada for the 2017-2018 academic year. Applicants should have either already declared their major or have completed at least one academic year in computer science, computer engineering or a closely related technical field.

Applications for the $1,000 scholarship are now being accepted through April 1.

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) released the following statement following the Senate’s approval of legislation that would provide equity in the way the state funds education:

“This historic vote begins to alleviate the damage caused by an outdated, unfair education funding formula. The legislature came together in a bipartisan manner to reach a compromise that works for all the children of Illinois. Students throughout my district and across the state will now get the resources they desperately need and deserve. I know there is much more work to be done, but this was an important first step in transforming the nation’s poorest funded school system and that’s why I supported this measure.”