High-Quality Early Education For All of Illinois' Children - Ounce of ...

✓Make preschool programs accessible to all familiesPrograms would provide at least 12.5 hours of preschool instruction, with a maximum of 5 days per week.Parents could choose to send their children for less time (3 or 4 days per week), or they could arrangeto extend a child's day using their own funds or a child care subsidy if they qualify.✓Include children with special needsPreschool for All programs would be appropriate for the age, developmental level, and special needs ofeach child, and would serve children with Individualized Education Plans.✓Serve non-English-speaking children and familiesMany children in Illinois grow up in families whose primary language is not English. For example, Spanishis the home language of one in three Chicago children and one in seven children statewide. In today'spreschool environment, teachers are working with an increasingly diverse population of young students,including many who come from homes where English is not spoken. 19 Preschool for All programs would servechildren with limited English proficiency. Programs would support and develop these children's emergentEnglish literacy while also providing an environment that fosters and preserves the primary language.2. QUALITY FOR ALLThe science on early learning is clear. 20 High-quality programs not only help children thrive today; they fostersuccess tomorrow—in school and in life. 21 Researchers have found that quality matters in many ways. Childrenappear happier and more engaged in settings where caregivers interact with them positively and where adult-childratios are higher. Children who attend higher-quality settings (measured in terms of program and caregivercharacteristics, age-appropriate activities, and facilities) show better cognitive, language, and social competencieson standardized tests; and are given higher ratings in these areas by parents, teachers, and expert observers.For these reasons, Preschool for All is designed to provide high-quality settings for all children. Efforts tostrengthen and assure quality are based on the guiding principles of Illinois' Birth to Three Program Standardsand Early Learning Standards, which are aligned with the K-12 Learning Standards. [See Sidebar: Illinois EarlyLearning Standards: Guiding Principles on page 13]. These standards describe the knowledge and skills that youngchildren are expected to master. The idea is to use standards to improve the odds that preschool programs willboost school readiness and build a solid foundation for later achievement.✓Require high staff qualificationsResearch has shown that competent and well-trained educators and caregivers are the most significantcomponent of high quality in early learning programs. Young children learn more and are better preparedfor school when their teachers and caregivers have higher levels of formal education, specialized trainingin early childhood education, adequate compensation and longevity on the job. In Preschool for All, leadteachers in state-funded programs will continue to be required to hold teacher certification in earlychildhood education, which calls for a four-year college degree and specialized training in early childhoodeducation.12