State cuts after-school grant programs

The Illinois Board of Education is eliminating after-school grant programs that a newspaper investigation found had recipients who weren't doing what they promised.

The Chicago Tribune reported last July that money had been misspent by some of the 48 recipients who received $20,000 grants.

While a dozen of the grants went to programs with established track records, about half of the sites ran questionable programs or declined to show how the money was spent.

The board has now deleted $9.7 million for the programs from next year's budget proposal. Board spokesman Matt Vanover says it's focusing on areas that help students most.

State Sen. Rickey Hendon sponsored many of the programs. The Chicago Democrat says he'll fight to restore the grants.