SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Six Illinois school districts have been given $618,000 in low-interest loans for classroom technology upgrades.

Officials announced Tuesday that loans ranging from $75,000 to $220,000 were given to districts in Lexington, Irvington, New Berlin, Elmwood, Swansea and Carpentersville.

Illinois State Board of Education Chairman Gery Chico says the three-year loans, which carry a 2 percent interest rate, help schools in financial difficulty keep up with technology advancements to help students learn.

Loans may be used for projects such as installing and upgrading computer networks; buying computer hardware; supplies and labor costs; and training for staff to use technology in teaching.

More than $75 million has been loaned to school districts since the program began in 1999.

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