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

✓Promote social and emotional developmentIllinois' Early Learning Standards emphasize social and emotional development, expecting that youngchildren will "develop an awareness of personal identity and positive self-concept," and "demonstrate arespect and responsibility for self and others." The standards stress children's ability to function asindividuals and as members of groups. 23 All children meet bumps in the road on the journey toward socialand emotional competence. But many face steeper obstacles. These children need the support of wellpreparedteachers who have the knowledge and tools to promote social and emotional development andmanage difficult classroom behaviors. Preschool for All programs would be able to apply for funding forongoing consultation (8-20 hours per month for every 4-6 classrooms) with qualified mental healthprofessionals who would have to meet standards set by Preschool for All.✓Ease transitions between settingsPreschool for All would promote the consistency and continuity that children need to adjust and learn as theymove from one setting to another, whether from home to preschool or from preschool to kindergarten. Everyprogram would have a plan to ease children's transition from home, child care, or other early childhood servicesto preschool, as well as from preschool to elementary school. Particular attention would be paid to transitioninto or out of special education. The transition plan would include specific activities that have been shown tohelp children and families make a good adjustment. For example, it might recommend joint workshops forpreschool teachers and kindergarten teachers at local elementary schools. Or it might call for staff-parentmeetings to plan for a child's transition from home to school or from one classroom to another. Staff wouldreceive special training related to working effectively with families and easing transitions.4. BUILDING ON ALL WE’VE ACCOMPLISHEDExpanding access and quality to all families starts with building on success. Illinois is fortunate to draw on a solidfoundation of quality early learning programs and well-qualified providers across the state. To implement Preschool forAll, we would need to increase the number of openings in good programs. That would mean replicating and expandingour best programs, while helping promising programs meet higher Preschool for All standards. The goal is to expandaccess to high-quality programs while valuing the characteristics that have been important to families in the past: awide range of settings, diversity among providers, a location convenient to home or work, and cultural competency.✓Allow families to choose from a wide range of settings and schedulesPreschool for All would empower families with a range of choices among high-quality programs andsettings, including child care centers, family child care homes, Head Start sites, and schools. Preschoolfor All funding would be available to a wide variety of organizations, including public and private schools,child care centers and licensed family child care homes, private preschools, park districts, faith-basedorganizations, and other community-based agencies. Families would know that when they choose aPreschool for All program, they could count on at least 12.5 hours per week of high-quality preschool atno additional cost to them.✓16Expand good programsIllinois is home to many wonderful early learning programs. Many have made strenuous efforts to improvequality. Some have met the rigorous accreditation standards established by the National Association forthe Education of Young Children or other accrediting bodies. Some are currently blending Head Start orState PreK funds with child care funds to make full-workday, year-round, high-quality early care andeducation services available to children whose parents work or attend school.