Pritzker Announces Proposal to
Create Unified Early Childhood State Agency
Signs EO to Initiate Transition, Education
Expert Ann Whalen to Lead Effort
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[October 24, 2023]
Today,
Governor Pritzker was joined by Lieutenant Governor Juliana
Stratton, Deputy Governor Grace Hou, Deputy Governor Martin Torres,
elected officials, and state agency directors at the Carole
Robertson Center for Learning to announce a proposal to create a new
state agency to house all early childhood programs and funding. The
new unified agency will provide a more equitable, integrated, and
holistic system of services for young children and families in
Illinois.
“We need a governance system that is unified in its approach to
serving families, working with providers, and promoting equity,”
said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our Smart Start Illinois plan served as
the catalyst for this transition, but this new agency will cover so
much more. From ISBE’s Early Childhood Block Grants and DCFS’ day
care licensing program to DHS’ child care, home visiting and early
intervention services, soon all of these programs will be
administered under the same agency.”
The proposal builds on Governor Pritzker’s work to make Illinois the
best state in the nation for families raising young children, with
the nation’s best early childhood education and childcare system.
Currently, services are housed in three separate agencies—the
Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the Illinois Department of
Human Services (DHS), and the Illinois Department of Children and
Family Services (DCFS).
To initiate the multi-year process, Governor Pritzker
is signing an Executive Order, and will work with the General
Assembly on legislation in the spring of 2024.
Early Childhood Transition Director Ann Whalen
Education expert Ann Whalen will serve as Early Childhood Transition
Director, working out of ISBE and in close collaboration with state
agencies and the governor’s office.
Ann Whalen has served as the Director of Policy for Advance Illinois
since 2019, where
she works on education advocacy issues including addressing
Illinois’ teacher shortage, the improved use of data to drive
decision making, social-and-emotional learning, education funding,
and more. She has an extensive background in education policy and
implementation at the local, state, and federal levels.
Before joining Advance, Ann spent two years at Denver Public Schools
focused on academic administration. Previously, Ann served as the
Director of the United States Department of Education Implementation
and Support Unit, helping to administer the Obama administration’s
Race to the Top program. Additionally, she served as Acting
Assistant Secretary in the Office of Elementary and Secondary
Education where she focused on improving academic outcomes. Prior to
her work in Washington, Ann was Deputy Chief Education Officer at
Chicago Public Schools. She holds a BA in Political Science from
Stanford University.
Advisory Committee
Governor Pritzker is establishing an external advisory committee to
seek input from stakeholders across the state in preparation for the
proposal. The committee will be chaired by Bela Moté and work
closely with Ann Whalen.
Bela Moté is the Chief Executive Officer of the Carole Robertson
Center for Learning, one of the largest early childhood and youth
development organizations in Chicago, serving close to 2,500
children through their childcare centers and affiliate programs. She
previously led the Early Childhood Funding Commission.
Early Childhood State Agency Proposal
The new unified agency will unify the following programs under a
single agency:
The Early Childhood Block Grant at ISBE, which funds Preschool for
All and the Prevention Initiative home-visiting program
The Child Care Assistance Program, Home-Visiting, and Early
Intervention services at DHS
Day care licensing currently managed by DCFS
Governor Pritzker established the Illinois Commission on Equitable
Early Childhood Education and Care Funding (“Early Childhood Funding
Commission”) to analyze and make recommendations on funding goals
and mechanisms to provide equitable access to high-quality early
childhood education and care services for all children from birth to
age five. The Commission concluded its efforts in 2021 with the
recommendation to consolidate all early childhood programs into a
new agency, making it a more accessible system for providers and
families.
The unified agency will address the difficulties that
providers and families experience when navigating three different
agencies. Having a governance system that is unified in its approach
to serving families, working with providers, and promoting equity is
why several states—including Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut,
Georgia, Massachusetts, Oregon, and New Mexico—already created new
state agencies dedicated solely to early childhood.
The change will further advance the Pritzker administration’s
transformative investments in comprehensive early childhood
education and care, including Smart Start Illinois. Beginning with a
$250 million investment this year, Smart Start Illinois is a
multi-year plan to eliminate preschool deserts, increase funding to
childcare providers to raise wages and quality, and reach more
vulnerable families with early support.
Smart Start Illinois demonstrates the state's ongoing commitment to
children, families, teachers, and childcare providers. The $250
million investment in FY24 includes:
$75 million additional for the Early Childhood Block Grant to put
Illinois on a path to creating more than 20,000 new Pre-K spots for
every child who wants one
$130 million for nation-leading Childcare Workforce Compensation
Contracts that will stabilize providers and give childcare workers a
raise
An additional $40 million for Early Intervention programs to enhance
services for families and give providers a raise
$5 million to expand the Illinois Department of Human Services' Home
Visiting Program so more families who want it can receive this early
support
In addition to Smart Start investments, other investments being made
in the early Childhood Education Space include:
$100 million in capital dollars for early childhood providers to
expand existing facilities and build new facilities
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$70 million for the Child Care
Assistance Program (CCAP)
$12 million in new funding for scholarships and apprenticeships
to expand the childcare workforce
$1.6 million to launch the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a
statewide literacy initiative to send free books to children
from birth-through age five
"As a working mom, I know how important it is for
families to be able to navigate getting access to quality,
affordable childcare and early learning programs,” said Lt. Governor
Juliana Stratton. “Today's announcement isn't just about the system,
but the people within this system—parents, families, educators and
most importantly, the children who will have greater access to
resources they need to thrive. By creating a more efficient and
equitable system, we are better serving our Illinois family."
“Our shared mission across State agencies is enhancing equitable
access to early childhood programs and services in support of
holistic development for all children,” said Dulce Quintero,
Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services. “We are so proud
to be a part of this historic investment in Illinois children and
their shared futures.”
“Illinois is a national leader in expanding and investing in early
childhood. Illinois has truly set the bar for the nation,” said
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. “But we also
recognize that our current model of governance and administration
can be confusing for families looking for care and for providers
looking for funding or guidance. Today, under the leadership of the
Pritzker Administration, ISBE looks forward to collaborating on
improving coordination, equity, and outcomes for the many excellent
early education and care providers across the state and the young
minds they serve.”
“The department has always been proud of our role and setting high
standards as it relates to licensing,” said Marc D. Smith Director
of Illinois DCFS. “When change has been needed in Illinois, the
Governor has led the way through innovation and bold action; we are
pleased to work alongside the team creating best practices under
this new agency.”
“The foundation of a child’s success and well-being is built
starting the moment they are born,” said Senate Majority Leader
Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood). “As a state, it is our duty to
provide the necessary support and resources to build such stability.
The creation of this unique agency will break ground on our
transition to a whole, trauma-informed approach to meeting
children’s diverse needs.”
“A new state agency completely dedicated to the young child that
will blend the important elements of early childhood education and
care into one department to create bright futures for Illinois
children,” said State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield). “These
coordinated supports will make it easier for families and providers
in Illinois and I am excited to work with Governor Pritzker and his
team to get this agency up and running.”
“As a strong advocate for education, I’m committed to
prioritizing early childhood education that encourages children to
be lifelong learners,” said State Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
(D-Shorewood). “This will streamline services and access for all
early childhood providers and families across the state. I thank
Governor Pritzker for putting our students first and making early
childhood education a priority here in Illinois.”
“Illinois’ children deserve access to the best early childhood
education and care services, and this transformation will have a
notable impact across the state,” said State Senator Lakesia Collins
(D-Chicago). “I am grateful to Governor Pritzker and everyone that
is collaborating to make this change possible.”
“Early childhood care and education are key to creating a strong
foundation for learning and success,” said House Deputy Majority
Leader Elizabeth ‘Lisa’ Hernandez (D-Cicero). “I look forward to
collaborating with Governor Pritzker to ensure that we continue
making Illinois the best state in the nation for families, with
equity at the center of every policy.”
“We want to make sure that every child receives the attention and
prioritization they deserve,” said House Assistant Majority Leader
Camille Lilly (D-Chicago). “I appreciate the partnership from
Governor Pritzker and his administration with the Early Childhood
Funding Commission, and I’m excited to see the strong impact this
new agency will have across Illinois.”
“Over the past year, I’ve spent considerable time with families and
providers, listening to their experiences, struggles, and needs,”
said State Rep. Joyce Mason (D-Gurnee). Having one agency dedicated
to ECEC will make it easier for families to explore their options
and for providers to navigate funding and standards. Most
importantly, it will better ensure that every child in Illinois will
receive equitable, high-quality education and care. Together with
the SMART START Illinois initiative introduced this year, Illinois
is working hard to be the very best state for families to raise
their children.”
“Children in all corners of the state deserve high quality early
childhood education,” said State Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia).
“Helping families and children by expanding access to child care and
early childcare education will dramatically impact their future
success. Establishing an office of early childhood education and
housing all resources under one ‘roof’ will provide better support
for daycare providers and families, ensuring that Illinois is the
best place for families to raise their children.”
“Uniting the efforts of public servants under a dedicated agency
devoted to strengthening early childhood conditions for all Illinois
kids is a major step forward,” said State Rep. Mary Beth Cany
(D-Arlington Heights). “This step is by no means the end to
lawmaking efforts working towards a better life for our children.
However, this team of professionals with the work already being done
in the General Assembly creates the opportunity to grow further
partnerships and find smarter solutions to the challenges facing
Illinois families, rather than our current siloed approach.”
“I am thrilled to see Governor Pritzker take this
extremely important step towards improving outcomes for both
children and parents across Illinois,” said State Rep. Laura Faver
Dias (D-Grayslake). “The creation of an agency to oversee early
childhood programs will help Illinois manage out-of-control
childcare costs, provide a better quality of care, and improve
childcare access to parents across Illinois. The strength of
Illinois’ unified childcare efforts will make Illinois a better
place to raise a child.”
[Office of the Governor JB Pritzker]
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