 "Studies tell us that quality teaching and learning at an early age
helps kids succeed in the future," said Blagojevich. "I believe that
every 3- and 4-year-old in Illinois should have access to a
high-quality preschool program, regardless of family income, and
thanks to our Preschool for All program -- they do."Illinois'
high-quality, state-funded pre-kindergarten program was ranked first
nationally for enrolling 19 percent of the state's 3-year-olds,
according to The State of Preschool 2007: State Preschool Yearbook.
Nationwide, enrollment of 3-year-olds was up 10 percent, mostly due
to increases here in Illinois, which became the first state to
commit to serving all 3-year-olds. Illinois was also ranked 12th for
percentage of 4-year-olds enrolled -- 27 percent. The state's
pre-kindergarten initiatives also meet nine of 10 quality benchmarks
cited by the report.
The annual yearbook ranks all 50 states on the percentage of
children served and compares the number of quality benchmarks each
state meets. The survey found nationally that enrollment, quality
and state spending increased in the 2006-2007 school year. In the
2006 yearbook, Illinois ranked second for enrollment of 3-year-olds
and 13th for enrollment of 4-year-olds.
"We know that success later in life starts at a very early age.
Preschool for All ensures that all children are well-prepared to
succeed in school and in life," said Christopher A. Koch, state
superintendent of education. "We want to give all of our students
every opportunity to be successful in life, and the governor and the
state board's commitment to Preschool for All does just that. I am
pleased to see that we are receiving national recognition for their
commitment."
Blagojevich has made a multiyear commitment to early childhood
education through Preschool for All, increasing funding by 90
percent, or $164 million, over the past five years. The fiscal 2009
budget includes additional funding to continue the expansion toward
fully funding Preschool for All. The goal is to continue to increase
funding until all children whose families want them in preschool
have access to it by fiscal 2011.
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"The children left out are disproportionately from middle-income
families that can't afford private schools," said W. Steven Barnett,
NIEER's executive director. "Failing to provide high-quality early
education opportunities for these children compromises their ability
to succeed in school and in life and has grave consequences for our
society and economy."
Building upon the success, the Illinois State Board of Education
is moving forward with Blagojevich's Preschool for All expansion by
accepting proposals from potential providers for the 2008-2009
school year. Public and private entities with experience in
providing educational, health, social and child development services
to young children are encouraged submit proposals.
Preschool for All will allow every community to offer
high-quality preschool in a variety of settings, including public
and private schools, child-care centers, licensed family child-care
homes, private preschools, park districts, faith-based
organizations, and other community-based agencies. It requires that
preschools be staffed by experienced teachers who hold bachelor's
degrees and specialized training in early education and provide at
least 2 1/2 hours per day of high-quality programming designed to
foster all of the skills -- social, emotional, physical and
cognitive -- that all young children need to have.
The Illinois State Board of Education has posted the request for
proposals at
http://www.isbe.net/earlychi/html/block_grant.htm. Proposals
must be delivered to the Illinois State Board of Education --
Springfield or Chicago office -- no later than April 7.
The full yearbook is available at
www.nieer.org.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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