SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Illinois students received an opportunity to showcase their best work at ACT Now's 2026 STEM showcase.
Students from across the state brought their special projects and inventions to Springfield to demonstrate the importance of afterschool and out-of-school-time programs.
"The community was really fun, everyone [here] was really fun to interact with and hang out with. We made some pretty good relationships [here]," said participant Yandel Leyva.
These programs have seen significant cuts over the past year.
Advocates with Act Now want the Illinois General Assembly to invest $20 million in state funding for full-service community schools to protect these programs from any further disruption.
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