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Early Childhood
Illinois Department of Early Childhood’s first secretary could be Teresa Ramos, a long-time education advocate, pending confirmation by the state Senate. Pritzker made the announcement Monday.
Differences in scores between student groups in Illinois tend to grow larger between kindergarten and third grade, the report found.
The change would help families of pre-K students who live outside a school’s boundary or attend one of 15 magnet schools.
The plan includes several priorities meant to bolster communities with high-needs, including to improve academic achievement for Black students and reduce teacher vacancies.
While many other professions have shifted to paid internships or apprenticeships, student teaching continues to be largely unpaid.
As federal COVID funds run out, the district is grappling with how to pay for universal preschool going forward.
Illinois plans to provide 5,800 additional preschool seats for the state’s youngest learners
The governor will work with the legislature in spring 2024 to formalize the new agency’s structure. He is appointing a transition director and advisory committee to help figure out how to bring together preschool funding, daycare licensing, early intervention, and the state’s child care assistance program.
At a town hall meeting Thursday, providers and parents appealed for funds to keep providers in business and services affordable for families.
Officials are considering opening more so-called specialty schools meant to help students with more challenging disabilities transition into the real world.
Illinois Action for Children’s report on child care in Cook County found that federal emergency relief funds allowed many providers to keep their doors open. However, families still face barriers to get affordable care.
The Illinois Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity report found that about an additional 500 students who already work in early childhood education enrolled in college.
Illinois legislators pass bill that requires school districts to have a full-day kindergarten bill by 2027 as spring legislative session starts to wind down.
Four-year-olds will get priority, but officials say more than 30,000 spots are available across Chicago Public Schools and community-based early childhood providers. Families are encouraged to apply before May 2 to get an offer by May 19.
Early childhood education advocates want the winner of the April 4 runoff to prioritize access to affordable child care, attracting and retaining early childhood education staff.
Early childhood education needs more funding, say Chicago’s mayoral candidates. However, each candidate’s proposal differs in how to do it.
In his inauguration speech, the governor said he would make college tuition free for working-class families and expand preschool to all Illinois families.
Pritzker said he wants to make Illinois the number one state for making child care accessible to families during his second term in office.
Early childhood education advocates have long argued that low wages prevent child care centers from retaining employees for a long time. A new study finds a gap in wages between early childhood teachers and teachers in kindergarten despite having the same degree.