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Aurora School Districts Expand Support Programs for Students and Families
Initiatives in East Aurora School District 131 and West Aurora School District 129 focus on counseling, meals, transportation and academic recognition with direct effects on local households.
How we reported this
East Aurora School District 131 and West Aurora School District 129 launched the ONE Aurora initiative during the 2025-2026 school year to deliver on-site counseling and mobile crisis intervention that has reached over 350 students across both districts.
Expanded Counseling Access Reaches Hundreds of Students
The ONE Aurora program places mental health resources directly inside schools rather than requiring families to arrange separate appointments. This setup reduces travel time for parents and guardians who work or manage other responsibilities in Aurora. Residents with children in either district now have a single point of contact for immediate support instead of navigating multiple outside providers.
Academic Recognition Highlights Student Achievement
In the 2026 class, 88 graduating seniors at East Aurora High School received the Seal of Biliteracy, equal to 10 percent of the cohort. Thirty-seven students from the same graduating group were named Illinois State Scholars for 2026-2027. These designations appear on transcripts and can strengthen applications for local scholarships and college admission. Families gain concrete evidence of language and academic skills that local employers and higher-education institutions recognize.
Free Meals and Electric Buses Ease Daily Costs
District 129 operates electric buses that make up one-third of its fleet. All students in Aurora schools qualify for free breakfast and lunch this school year with no fees or applications required. The combination lowers transportation emissions on routes serving Aurora neighborhoods and removes meal expenses from household budgets for every enrolled family.
East Aurora School District 131 also named four new leaders for the 2026-27 school year to focus on instruction and student results. Several Aurora-area districts are revising Title IX policies to align with federal directives, with board meetings scheduled for October 2025 to review the updates.
Next Steps for Aurora Households
Families can contact their school office or visit district websites to learn how to access ONE Aurora counseling, confirm meal eligibility, or review updated Title IX information ahead of the October board meetings. District calendars list upcoming sessions where residents can ask questions about the new leadership appointments and bus routes.