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

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Appendix ARecommendations for Future ConsiderationThe Illinois Early Learning Council developed a set of comprehensive recommendations to enhancepreschool program quality. At full implementation, the Council estimated that 190,000 children wouldchoose to participate in high-quality preschool programs offered under Preschool for All. To supportevery program enhancement recommended by the Council's committees, approximately $415 millionwould be required annually in addition to our current investments in the Early Childhood Block Grant,the Child Care Assistance Program, Early Childhood Special Education, and Head Start.Although each new investment would add value and bring important benefits to Illinois' children andfamilies, Council members identified the components they felt would make the greatest difference tochildren's school readiness when added to the current base of programs. The Illinois Early LearningCouncil's top priorities have been incorporated into Governor Blagojevich's proposed five year plan forPreschool for All. These are highlighted in the Preschool for All Summary of Recommendations. Therecommendations below are presented for future consideration as additional resources becomeavailable to further enhance Illinois' preschool programs.• Extend the length of a preschool class session from 2.5 to 3 hours• Fund higher teacher-child ratios for children at high risk of school failure• Provide Family Resource Coordinators to enhance family support services• Provide a pay differential for bilingual teachers• Fund local community collaborations to link and coordinate services for young children and theirfamilies• Help fund Gateways to Opportunity, an early childhood professional development support system• Mentor new teachers• Pilot and evaluate innovative models to reach children cared for by family members, friends, andneighbors• Increase investments in indoor and outdoor equipment26
Appendix BIllinois' Early Childhood ProgramsThe Early Childhood Block Grant, administered by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE),supports early childhood education programs to ensure that children under five develop a strongfoundation for learning.• STATE PREKINDERGARTEN: In FY05, State PreK served 67,000 three- and four-year olds whobecause of their home and community environment are subject to such language, cultural,economic and like disadvantages that they have been determined to be at risk of academic failure.The goal of the program is to prepare children for success in school. Most classrooms are in publicschools and adhere to high standards regarding the educational program and parent andcommunity involvement. Eligibility is determined by a range of risk factors, includingdevelopmental delay, limited English proficiency, low family income, and low parental education.There is no income eligibility limit and no requirement that parents work. State PreK services aredelivered by certified teachers with compensation levels generally commensurate with those oflocal elementary school teachers.• EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION: An additional 17,700 children ages three and four withdisabilities or significant delays who have Individualized Education Plans were served by EarlyChildhood Special Education funded by federal, state, and local funds. These programs are free butrestricted to children who are at risk or those with disabilities and most are offered for a half dayonly.• CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCAP), administered by the Illinois Department of HumanServices (IDHS), provided subsidies in FY05 to 45,600 three- and four-year-olds in working familieswith low incomes: 32,500 were served in child care centers, 8,800 in licensed family child carehomes, and 14,300 were cared for by friends and relatives in homes that are exempt from licensingrequirements. Of this total, almost 13,000 children received a child care subsidy in addition toState PreK and/or Head Start to help support full-workday, year-round education and care services.In addition, 48,500 children from six weeks up to three years of age received assistance throughCCAP: 16,000 were served in child care centers, 12,000 in licensed family child care homes, and20,500 were cared for by friends and relatives in homes that are exempt from licensingrequirements. The Child Care Assistance Program was created to ensure that low-income parents27
Page 1: Preschool for AllHigh-Quality Early
Page 4 and 5: Preschool for AllSummary of Recomme
Page 6 and 7: Illinois Early Learning Council Ove
Page 9 and 10: Executive SummaryPreschool for All
Page 11 and 12: • All families need assurance tha
Page 13 and 14: 4. BUILDING ON ALL WE'VE ACCOMPLISH
Page 15 and 16: vii
Page 17 and 18: Part 1Why Preschool for All?Illinoi
Page 19 and 20: How Are We Serving Infants and Todd
Page 21 and 22: This finding rests on a large body
Page 23 and 24: This ReportThis report provides an
Page 25: 6Preschool for All means peace of m
Page 28 and 29: ✓Make preschool programs accessib
Page 30 and 31: ✓Create a pipeline of qualified s
Page 32 and 33: ✓Promote social and emotional dev
Page 34 and 35: Which providers are eligible to par
Page 37 and 38: Part 3Putting the Pieces TogetherIl
Page 39 and 40: When It All Comes TogetherWhat Will
Page 44 and 45: have access to affordable child car
Page 47 and 48: Part 4Illinois Early Learning Counc
Page 49 and 50: Raydeane JamesIllinois State Board
Page 51: AcknowledgementsThis report was wri

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

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