Illinois Child Care Group Sizes and Ratios Restored to Pre-Pandemic Levels
News from the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development: Group sizes and ratios have been returned to pre-pandemic levels for
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Author: bakoenig
Local Solutions to COVID-19 Challenges: Illinois Head Start Programs Share Their Stories
This interactive story map explores how three Head Start programs in Illinois have responded to COVID-19 challenges.
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Illinois General Assembly Passes Education Omnibus Bill
The Illinois General Assembly has passed HB2170, a bill designed to increase educational access and opportunities for students of color,
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Updated Federal Resources for Child Care Providers
From the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD): “During this time as the nation continues to face challenges related
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Illinois Early Childhood Workforce Town Hall Meeting Scheduled for Friday, January 15
The state has scheduled a town hall meeting on Friday, January 15, to discuss vaccine distribution for the early childhood
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Updated Resources for School Reopenings
As some Illinois schools move toward reopening this month, here’s a selection of updated resources available to guide that process.
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Governor Announces Additional Funding for Illinois Child Care Providers
Governor Pritzker is directing additional funding to support child care providers that are part of the Child Care Assistance Program
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Year-End COVID-19 Relief Bill Includes $10 Billion for Child Care
Congress has passed a $900 billion end-of-the-year relief bill that includes $10 billion in funding to stabilize the child care
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Early Intervention Clearinghouse Loans Technology to Illinois Families
IECAM’s sister project here at the Early Childhood Collective at the University of Illinois is helping families across the state
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Countdown: IECAM’s Top Ten Resources in 2020
This countdown of the most popular IECAM resources over the past 12 months offers a glimpse of the interests and needs of the Illinois early childhood community during this difficult year.
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NAEYC Survey: Illinois Providers are Sacrificing to Stay Open
A new national survey of more than 6,000 child care providers shows the depth of sacrifices they are making to
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Draft Recommendations from the Illinois Early Childhood Funding Commission
During a virtual town hall meeting this month, members of Governor Pritzker’s Early Childhood Funding Commission shared its emerging recommendations
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Looking Ahead to 2021
IECAM has some exciting features coming in 2021—tools and resources that will make it even easier for you to access
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Illinois Action for Children Releases Early Care and Education Policy Agenda
Illinois Action for Children’s Sylvia Cotton Center for Research and Policy Innovation has released a policy agenda for ensuring racial,
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Early Intervention Tier 3 Mitigation Guidelines
On November 20, 2020, the governor put the entire state under Tier 3 resurgence mitigations. For your convenience, we have
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Report Shows Gaps in Illinois Child Care Supply and Need
A new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center uses child care supply and parent choice data to calculate the number
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Illinois Early Childhood Dashboard Updates
Have you visited the Illinois Early Childhood Dashboard recently? IECAM is regularly adding new charts and maps to this resource!
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What is ExceleRate Illinois? A Q&A with Toni Porter from INCCRRA
Have you ever wondered what a child care program’s Circle of Quality level means, or how and why it has been awarded? This video and infographic lays out the basics of ExceleRate Illinois, a quality improvement and recognition program for early childhood settings.
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New Report: 46% Increase in Uninsured Illinois Children Since 2016
According to a new report from Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, an estimated 120,000 Illinois children were uninsured in
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Infographic: What Data Can Tell Us About COVID-19 and Child Care
The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Education (GOECD) is providing a new infographic showing what we know so far about
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DCFS Updates Licensing Standards for Day Care Homes and Centers
From DCFS: In light of the extreme circumstances related to COVID-19 and the need to ensure that the health and
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Illinois Early Learning Council Annual Report Available
The 2019 annual report of the Illinois Early Learning Council highlights the goals, accomplishments, and challenges of the council’s standing
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New Study Shows Full-Day Pre-K Access and Enrollment Increased After Chicago Enacted Policy Changes
Policy changes to Chicago’s school-based pre-k system resulted in greater equity in access to, and enrollment in, full-day, school-based pre-k,
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New COVID-19 & Child Welfare Report Uses Data to Understand Trends in Maltreatment and Response
A new report released by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago suggests that those concerned with the well-being of
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Sparking Family Engagement in Early Learning Webinar
Join the Early Childhood Collective at the University of Illinois in taking a closer look at family engagement in early
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Head Start 2019: Funded Enrollment and Number of Sites by County
Total number of children that Head Start Programs in the state of Illinois are funded to enroll at any one
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Overview: The Early Learning Landscape in Illinois Six Months into the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD), the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), the Department of Children and
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Results from Early Childhood Teacher/Parent Survey Released
A new report from Defending the Early Years (DEY) documents survey findings collected over summer 2020 on the topic of
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Parents’ and Mother’s Education Level
The education level (that is, highest level of schooling attained) of parents and mothers who are living with their children.
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Data Report Shows Impact of COVID-19 on Child Care Access, Affordability, and Quality
A new report from Child Care Aware of America features data, analysis, and stories about how COVID-19 has affected the
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Communicating Your Early Childhood Data Story
This presentation offers an overview of data available on IECAM and then walks you through the process of finding and visualizing that data in order to better inform your community.
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Governor Pritzker Announces $156M in Funding to Child Care Providers Across State
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) have announced that over $156 million in BIG funding has been provided to 4,686 child care providers across Illinois facing challenges as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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Newly Released: Report on Child Care in Cook County 2020
The Sylvia Cotton Center for Research & Policy Innovation powered by Illinois Action for Children (IAFC) has released a special
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New: Prenatal-to-3 Policy Roadmap
The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at the The University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
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Updated: Illinois Early Care and Education Services Map
Our updated interactive map shows early care and education services sites for the state of Illinois based on 2019 data
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From Our Corner: The State of Child Care in Central Illinois in the Wake of COVID-19
In recent months, the national media has been reporting on the devastating effects the COVID pandemic has had on child care programs. Are these same effects being felt here in Central Illinois?
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IDHS Releases 2019 CCAP Report
The Illinois Department of Human Services has released its latest (2019) Illinois Child Care Assistance Program Report. Information in this
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Revised Guidance for Home Visiting, Doula, & Coordinated Intake
The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development, in partnership with home visiting funders and the Executive Committee of the Home
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Report Finds Increase in Unmet Basic Needs in Immigrant Families
A new report released by the Urban Institute explores how the economic challenges surrounding the COVID-19 crisis are disproportionately affecting
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Our Latest Data Updates
Now available on IECAM’s online database — the latest data (2019) for the following early childhood services and programs in
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KIDS Data Shows Increase in Kindergarten Readiness
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has released the third year of data for the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey
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IDPH Releases Guidance for Illinois Schools
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released a Guidance for Pre-K-12 Schools and Day Care Programs for Addressing
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Early Care and Education Services Map for Illinois
This map shows early care and education services sites for the state of Illinois based on the most recent data available.
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DCFS Releases Licensed Day Care Guidance
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has released a Restore Illinois Licensed Day Care Guidance and License Exempt
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Revised Restore Illinois Guidance for Home Visiting, Doula, and Coordinated Intake Programs
More August news from the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development: Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) &
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IDHS Issues FAQ for Early Intervention Plan for Resuming In-Person Services
News from the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development: The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has issued a FAQ for its Early Intervention (EI) Plan for Resuming In-Person Services.
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House Passes $50 Billion Child Care Stabilization Fund Plus Additional Child Care Relief
On July 29th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Child Care is Essential Act, which creates a $50 billion
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A Note Regarding Data on IECAM and the COVID-19 Pandemic
IECAM receives its data from a variety of state and federal data sources. Typically, we have the data at least
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State Announces $270M in Child Care Funding
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) recently announced $270 million in funding to help child
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New from ISBE: Learning Recommendations for 2020-21 School Year
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has released recommendations to educators for implementing in-person, blended, and/or remote learning during
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IDHS Releases Early Intervention Plan for Resuming In-Person Services
The Illinois Department of Human Services, Bureau of Early Intervention, has released a plan for resuming in-person meetings and services,
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ISBE Releases FAQ for Early Childhood Block Grant Program Grantees on Transition to In-Person Instruction
The Illinois State Board of Education has released a FAQ for Early Childhood Block Grant Program Grantees on the transition
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Using Excel to Visualize Early Childhood Data
Communicate issues that are important to your community through visualizations! These instructions will walk you through the three-step process of transforming your IECAM data into a chart using Excel.
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NAEYC Survey Finds 40% of U.S. Child Care Centers Will Close Without Additional Funding
A new survey by The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) found more than 40% of the nation’s child
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Governor Pritzker Dedicates $10M in Emergency Relief Funds to Early Childhood Programs
This week Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that public schools across the state will receive $108.5 million from the governor’s emergency
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Free Posters Now Available
Our infographic laying out age eligibility, funding streams, and administering agencies for the range of publicly funded early childhood programs
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From Our Corner: Early Care and Education in the Age of COVID-19
Illinois early childhood expert Dr. Rebecca Swartz responds to a recent Hechinger Report article that lays out five early care and education problems brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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GOECD Shares Resources on Racism, Racial Equity, and Diversity
The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD) has put together a document of racial equity resources in order to
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Phase 4 Guidance for Starting the 2020-21 School Year Released
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) have released a guidance for
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University of Illinois Task Force Examining Effects of COVID-19 on Child Care Providers and Children at Risk
The Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois has assembled interdisciplinary faculty expert task forces from
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Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund (ICRF) for Nonprofits – Applications Due July 24th
Applications for the final round of funding of the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund are now available.
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Child Find Project
IECAM has been working with the Child Find Project in Illinois to develop maps based on collected data. These data
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2020 Illinois KIDS COUNT Health Report Released
Voices for Illinois Children has released a 2020 Illinois KIDS COUNT report that looks at indicators of children’s health as well
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IECAM Honors the Life of Maria Whelan, President and CEO of Illinois Action for Children
IECAM was sad to hear that Maria Whelan, President and CEO of Illinois Action for Children, passed away recently. Maria
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Governor Pritzker Announces $270M Grant Program for Illinois Child Care Providers
The Governor’s Office has announced a $270 million Child Care Restoration grant program, provided for in the FY21 budget passed
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Police Use of Force Database Would Ensure a More Equitable Future
The past few months have been challenging for families all over the nation. We have learned about new terms, such
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New Guidance for Summer School, Camps, and In-Person Early Childhood Screenings
Governor Pritzker has signed Executive Order 2020-40 (enacted on June 4, 2020) allowing schools to open for limited in-person educational purposes, such as summer school, following the completion of the regular 2019-20 school year.
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FY2019 Head Start and Early Head Start Data Update
The online database has recently been updated to include FY2019 Head Start and Early Head Start data. Data updated includes:
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Senators Introduce Bill to Provide Relief to Child Care Sector
Three U.S. senators have introduced the Child Care is Essential Act – a bill that would create a Stabilization Fund to support
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Updated Interactive Maps: Poverty, Race/Ethnicity, and Unemployment
The following interactive maps on IECAM have been updated to include the most recent data available (2018) from the U.S.Census
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2019 Preschool For All (PFA) Data Now Available
Data for FY2019 ISBE Preschool For All (PFA) programs are now available on the IECAM online database.
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Governor Pritzker Releases Child Care Reopening Guidance
Governor Pritzker has announced the release of the Restore Illinois Child Care Guidelines. This document provides an overview of the
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More Updates on IECAM: 2019 Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Data
The IECAM database has been updated to include the total number of children that a Migrant and Seasonal Head Start
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IECAM Database Now Includes 2019 Early Intervention data from IDHS
IECAM users will now be able to access 2018 demographic and early childhood education data (the latest figures available) using our searchable database.
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Illinois Early Learning Council Requests Survey Responses on Community Collaborations During COVID-19
The All Families Served and the Community Systems Development subcommittees of the Illinois Early Learning Council wants to better understand
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U.S. Federal Congressional Districts
For more about U.S. Federal Congressional Districts, visit the data definition page. View larger map
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Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs)
Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) are geographic areas for which the Census Bureau provides selected extracts of raw data from
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Illinois Board of Higher Education To Use $1.3M To Grow the Number of Early Childhood Professionals in the State
The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) has received $1.3M in federal funds through the Preschool Development Birth to Five
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Webinar to Focus on Early Childhood Risk Factors Contributing to COVID-19 Health Disparities
A free webinar hosted by Erikson Institute, IECAM – Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map, and Voices for Illinois Children on Friday, May 15th
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IECAM Database Updated to Include 2018 Demographic & PFA/PI Data
IECAM users will now be able to access 2018 demographic and early childhood education data (the latest figures available) using our searchable database.
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Governor Pritzker Announces Reopening Plan
Governor Pritzker has announced the Restore Illinois: A Public Health Approach To Safely Reopen Our State plan.
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Chicago Community Areas (CCAs)
The city of Chicago is divided into 77 community areas for statistical and planning purposes. Do you need to quickly identify specific
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Resources to Support Young Children Experiencing Homelessness During COVID-19
Schoolhouse Connection has put together a compilation of resources focusing on children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Cross-training Resources for Illinois Early Intervention, Home Visiting, & Child Welfare Providers
The Serving Families Together Initiative has developed a suite of resources for sharing across service systems in order to improve collaboration and coordination for the benefit of families served in Illinois communities.
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Federal Small Business Relief Programs Replenished
A new bill, passed this week, will replenish funding for critical COVID-19 small business relief programs through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
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COVID-19 Information & Resources from the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development
The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD) has developed a COVID-19 resource page on their website with links to information to help keep all Illinois residents, especially families, providers, and those who support children, informed.
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Key Early Care and Education Resources for Parents & Providers During the COVID-19 Crisis
Early care and education information for essential worker parents and child care providers during the COVID-19 crisis in Illinois.
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Illinois Makes Progress Serving Pre-K Children in 2019 According to New NIEER Report
Illinois made gains in pre-K enrollment while maintaining spending per child and quality standards in 2019, according to The State of Preschool 2019 report released this week from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).
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Webinars Now Available for Illinois Emergency Childcare Providers
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Erikson Institute’s Policy and Leadership Department is creating webinars to support emergency child care providers on behalf
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Early Choices Releases Strategic Plan Report for Birth to 5 Inclusion
A new report gathers existing reports and data related to inclusion of children birth to 5 in early care and education in Illinois.
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New Social Vulnerability Map for Cook County Available
Cook County has launched this mapping tool in order to help visualize and address disparities in communities most affected by COVID-19.
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Child Care Organizations Call for More Federal Relief
In a new letter to Congress, a dozen national child care organizations are asking for additional federal relief for child care
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Coronovirus Relief Survey & Toolkit for Illinois Child Care Providers
Child care providers interested in applying for forgivable Small Business Administration loans should complete this survey though Thursday, April 16th.
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New Report: COVID-19’s Early Impact on Home Visiting
This report, which includes results from over 1300 programs across the US, is the first national snapshot of how the home visiting field is coping.
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Unemployment Claims Top 200K in Illinois, 24% of Workforce Impacted by COVID-19
Unemployment is hitting record levels in Illinois
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Illinois to Pick Up Child Care Tab for Essential Workers
Note: the information in this article is from April 2020. This program has ended. More information about changes to the
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NAEYC Asks Child Care Providers to Take Survey on COVID-19 Impact
The National Association for the Education of Young Children NAEYC) is requesting that child care providers of all kinds fill out this survey to inform them about the impact of COVID-19 on their child care programs.
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Governor’s Office Releases Illinois’ Early Childhood Care and Education Response to COVID-19
The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development released a briefing this week detailing everything Illinois has done to date to keep children and providers safe while supporting families’ child care options during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
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Program Data for FY21 Early Childhood Grant Applications
The most recent capacity and/or funded enrollment data available for a selection of early childhood services and programs in Illinois.
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U.S. Congress Passes Third Stimulus Package Containing Early Childhood Provisions
A third stimulus package (H.R. 748, CARES Act) was passed by Congress on Friday, March 27th to address the still unfolding COVID-19 pandemic. It includes multiple early childhood provisions.
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Website & Newsletter to Share COVID-19 Updates, Resources for Illinois’ Early Care & Education Community
A new website and weekly e-newsletter from Illinois Action for Children will share the latest news, updates, and resources for the Illinois early care and education community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Congress Includes Relief for Child Care Industry in COVID-19 Stimulus Bill
On Wednesday night, March 25th, the U.S. Senate passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act – or CARES
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How the Number of Young Children in Illinois is Changing
The general population in Illinois has been on the decline for the past few years, but have the numbers of young children in our state followed this trend?
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INCCRRA Launches Early Learning Helpline
The statewide network of Illinois Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) has launched a new phone line at 888.228.1146 specifically to help connect essential workers’ families to emergency child care.
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New Online Community to Share Knowledge Across Early Childhood Field
A new online community called the Early Childhood Connector is now available to system builders in order to “exchange knowledge across the early childhood field that connects our collective expertise, policy, and advocacy ideas.”
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FY21 Early Childhood Block Grant RFP Deadline Extended
Due to the recent COVID-19 school closures, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is extending the FY21 RFP submission deadline until April 15, 2020.
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Guidance for Illinois Child Care Centers and Early Education Programs Released
The guidance covers closure mandates, funding, Child Care Assistance Program attendance waivers, staff pay, and reporting requests, among other things.
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Proposed Coronavirus Assistance Bill Includes $600 Million for Early Childhood Programs
The U.S. House and Senate have introduced bills that would distribute $3 billion for mandatory grant programs and flexibilities for early childhood education programs and K-12 schools.
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Illinois Early Childhood Collective Projects Share Resources for Learning at Home During Trying Times
Two of our Early Childhood Collective partners are offering resources on how to keep young children learning at home during trying times.
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Legislation to Alleviate DCFS Case Worker Shortage Passes Illinois House
A bill to allow individuals with criminal justice backgrounds to work as Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) caseworkers has passed the Illinois State House and will now head to the Senate.
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Early Childhood Task Force Establishes Professional Standards
For the first time ever, early childhood educators have collectively defined the standards, qualifications, roles, supports, and compensation for members
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IECAM Contributes Data Expertise to Prenatal to Three Initiative
The Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map (IECAM) recently participated in the Prenatal to Three (PN3) Initiative facilitated by the Irving
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In Memoriam: Early Childhood Researcher J. Ronald Lally
The early child community is mourning the loss of J. Ronald Lally , a pioneer in the field of infant/toddler
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Pritzker Increases Funding for Early Childhood Progams in FY21 Budget
While the new budget does provide for increased funding for early childhood education, it also contains appropriations of $1.4 billion for K-12 and other programs to be held in reserve pending the outcome of a November ballot question on a graduated income tax.
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Drug Poisoning Mortality Map
While drug-related deaths are much more common among adults than children, it is likely that millions of children in the United States have been directly or indirectly affected by the epidemic.
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IDHS Increases Maximum Child Care Payment Rates for Providers
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has announced a rate increase for all child care provider types effective January 1, 2020.
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PFA Equity Report Suggests Moving to Need-Based Formula
A recently released equity analysis from Illinois Action for Children and the Sylvia Cotton Center for Policy Innovation suggests moving
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Family Child Care Homes
Latest data: 2019 Family child care provides care for groups of children in a homelike setting. Licensed Family Child Care may care
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Risk and Reach Data Now Available by Legislative District
The Illinois Risk and Reach Report from Erikson Institute has been updated to include indicators by Illinois Senate and House
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Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Support Nonprofit Child Care Providers
This week two members of Congress introduced the bipartisan Small Business Child Care Investment Act. This Act would allow qualified nonprofit
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Children’s Home & Aid Child Care Resource & Referral Offers Free Grant Writing Training
Children’s Home & Aid Child Care Resource & Referral is hosting a free two-hour grant writing training to support community based organizations applying for Illinois State Board of Education’s FY21 Preschool For All, Preschool for All Expansion, and/or Prevention Initiative grants.
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ISBE Releases FY21 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) / Request for Proposals (RFP)
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has released a Notice of of Opportunity (NOFO)/Request for Proposals (RFP) for Fiscal Year 2021 Preschool for All (PFA), Preschool for All Expansion (PFAE), and Prevention Initiative (PI).
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Governor Pritzker Announces Next Phase of His Early Education Agenda
Governor Pritzker has announced that his early education agenda will center on expanding home visiting programs statewide and improving pay for early childhood educators.
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New for 2020: Improved Pathways to IECAM Data
Looking for early childhood data in the new year? You may have noticed some changes in the search options on the IECAM website.
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Chicago Public Schools to Provide Bus Service to Preschool Students With Disabilities
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has committed to ensuring that preschool-aged children with disabilities can receive bussing to, from, and between their home, their CPS school and the community-based preschool they attend.
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Illinois Public Media Examines Inequity in Illinois Schools
Illinois Public Media recently published an article on the divisive lines between school districts in the state – boundaries where
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Birth Rates
Women with births in the past 12 months – Rate per 1,000 women; Estimate; Women 15 to 50 years, 2009-2017
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Illinois to Receive $40 Million in Federal Funding for Early Childhood Programs
The Governor’s Office announced over the holidays that the state will receive $40.2 million in federal grants over the next
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Risk and Reach Report Updates: County Snapshots and More
Risk and Reach data by county is now available for download. These shareable one-pagers contain the child population for each county, risk level, and percentages and actual numbers for each indicator in the Report.
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Summary of 2019 Illinois Early Childhood Legislation Now Available
The Ounce of Prevention has released a summary of the FY2020 early childhood bills that became law in Illinois over
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Governor Pritzker Creates Early Childhood Funding Commission
The governor has named a 29-person Commission on Equitable Early Childhood Education and Care Funding and tasked it with figuring out how to have the biggest impact with limited funds.
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Infographic: Illinois Publicly Funded Early Childhood Programs
This new infographic lays out age eligibility, funding streams, and administering agencies for the range of publicly funded early childhood programs in Illinois.
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New Child Care Data Available
IECAM has recently updated its database to include FY2018 information on Illinois Licensed Child Care Centers, License-Exempt Child Care Centers and Licensed Family Child Care Homes.
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Study on Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) Tool Focuses on Data Collection and Use
A recent study conducted by Teach Plus focuses on how educators collect Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) data, how they use this data to inform instruction, and the impact data collection and use has on student outcomes.
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New Report Examines Race and Ethnicity in State-Funded Preschool Programs Across the Country
This recent report from The Education Trust examines race and ethnicity in state-funded preschool programs across the country
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Data Update: Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
IECAM has updated its database to include FY2017 Child Care Assistance Program data from the Illinois Department of Human Services
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Data Story Update: Refugee Arrivals in Illinois by Country of Origin 2015 – 19
This data story, using the most recent data from the U.S. Department of State, shows the number of refugee arrivals
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Illinois Report Card: Public PreK Enrollment in Illinois on the Rise
Public PreK enrollment in Illinois is on the rise in 2019, according to the newly released Illinois Report Card. You
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Data Update: Before and After School Care
IECAM has updated its tabular database to include 2017 data for before and after school care.
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Head Start Funded Enrollment in Illinois 2009-2018
This chart shows the total number of children that Head Start programs in the state of Illinois are funded to enroll at any one time, from 2009-2018.
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2019 Report on Public Education in Illinois Uses IECAM Data to Advocate for Expanded Access to Quality Early Childhood Programs
A new report from Advance Illinois analyzes data provided by the Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map (IECAM) to urge the state of Illinois to expand access to quality early childhood programs.
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Median Hourly Wage and Turnover Rates for Early Childhood Teachers in Licensed Illinois Child Care Centers 2007-2017
This chart shows the median hourly wage and turnover rates for early childhood teachers in Illinois child care centers from 2007-2017.
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Shortage of Early Childhood Teachers in Southern Illinois Causing Trouble for Local Learning Centers
A recent article in the Southern Illinoisan is drawing attention to the early childhood teacher shortage in Southern Illinois.
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What Can the Data Really Tell us About the Number of Young Children Experiencing Homelessness in Illinois?
Access to accurate data on the number of young children and families experiencing homelessness in Illinois is a critical first step in crafting effective policies to address the problem.
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Telling Your Data Story With IECAM: Presenting Data for Maximum Impact – A StoryMap Presentation
This presentation offers multiple examples of easy-to-use data visualization tools and resources that can enable just about anyone to tell their unique data story quickly and effectively.
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Illinois Risk and Reach Fiscal Scan Now Available for Download
The Illinois Risk & Reach Fiscal Scan is now available for download from the Risk and Reach Report website hosted
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More Illinois Families Now Eligible for Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has relaxed the eligibility limit for the state’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP),
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New Report Finds Early Childhood Settings More Segregated Than K-12 Schools
A new report from The Urban Institute looks at the racial and ethnic composition of early childhood programs and asks
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America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2019 Report Now Available
America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, an annual report of federal statistics on the health and well-being of America’s
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American Commmunity Survey Provides New State & Local Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Statistics
The U.S. Census Bureau has released its most detailed look at America’s people, places and economy.
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New Resources Provide Strategies to Improve Transition into Kindergarten
Two new resources from New America are now available to help policy makers and administrators improve the transition from preschool
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Quick Data Reports Updated
IECAM’s quick data reports have just been updated to include 2017 data. These reports include: Child Care, Early Care and Education Services, Publicly Funded Preschool and Head Start, and Response to PFA and PI Request for Proposals.
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U.S. Census Bureau Releases 2018 Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance Data
The U.S. Census Bureau has released 2018 data on income, poverty and health insurance coverage. According to the data, the
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Data Update: Child Care Program Accreditation
The data team at IECAM has updated the child care program accreditation data to include fiscal year 2017 (July 1 – June 30).
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Young Children as Percentage of Total Population by Illinois County
This map shows the percentage of children ages 5 years and under of the total population of each county in Illinois, based on 2017 demographic data.
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2019 Illinois KIDS COUNT Report Released
Voices for Illinois Children has released its 2019 Illinois KIDS COUNT Report. This report evaluates the state of Illinois children within four domains: Socioeconomics, Education, Health and Safety, and Housing.
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Illinois Legislative District Maps: State Senate, State House, and U.S. Congressional
Do you need to quickly identify specific Illinois legislative districts? Zoom in and click, or type an address, on these interactive maps to locate the geographic information you need.
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2017 Demographic Data Now Available on IECAM
2017 demographic data are now available in the IECAM online database.
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Fiscal Mapping for Early Childhood Services: How-To Guide and Data Collection Tool
One way to tackle the challenges associated with multiple funding streams for early childhood services is to develop a fiscal mapping process. The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has developed this how-to guide and data collection tool to provide a framework and steps to complete this process.
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Prenatal-to-Three Policy Guidebook for Legislators
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), in working with legislators and legislative staff, has designed this guidebook for considering prenatal-to-three issues and policy options.
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Percent of Homeless Public School Kindergarteners by County, 2017
This map shows the percentage of children enrolled in public school kindergarten in Illinois for the 2017-2018 school year who
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Back to School News for Illinois
As Illinois gears up for a new school year, here are some headlines of interest for the early childhood community:
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Updated: IECAM Report on Languages Spoken by Children Data from the U.S. Census Bureau
This updated report explains three types of U.S. Census Bureau on language diversity that may help answer policy questions such
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New Report Available: Ensuring Equitable Access to Funding for All Birth-to-Five Classroom-Based Early Childhood Programs in Illinois
A new report from the Ad Hoc Committee on Mixed Delivery Systems of the Illinois Early Learning Council explores the challenges in our current system for community-based programs’ participation in Preschool for All and Prevention Initiative.
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Standard Report Renamed Quick Data Report
The standard report tool is now called the Quick Data Report tool. Quick data reports are reports of data that
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Study of Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs Released
A new study conducted by Abt Associates is offering an up-to-date, nationally representative picture of the families and children served
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Poverty-Related Data and Resources on IECAM
Research has consistently shown that poverty has a significant and lasting impact on a child’s development. Here’s a list of data and resources found on IECAM related to early childhood and poverty.
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More Illinois Counties on Poverty Warning/Watch List
The 2019 Illinois Poverty Data and Well-Being Index developed by the Heartland Alliance Social Impact Research Center indicates that 67
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Illinois Child Health Equity Advocacy Group Hopes to Gather Homelessness Data
The Collaborative for Children’s Health Policy, a new statewide collaborative dedicated to achieving child health equity in Illinois, has announced
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Good News for Illinois Early Intervention Providers: IDHS Increases Reimbursement Rates for FY20
After several years of budget cuts, Illinois early intervention providers will see their reimbursement rates increase effective July 1, 2019.
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Low-Income Student Enrollment in Illinois Public Schools, 2006-2018
This interactive chart shows low-income student enrollment in Illinois public schools (Grades K—12) between 2006 and 2018.
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Illinois Public School Enrollment by Racial-Ethnic Group 2008-2018
This interactive chart shows the percentage of total K-12 school enrollment by the largest three racial-ethnic groups enrolled in Illinois public schools.
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DuPage Children’s Museum Leadership Takes Action After Reading Risk and Reach Report
A recent Chicago Tribune article reports that the DuPage Children’s Museum is expanding and reframing programming in response to the
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ISBE’s 2019 KIDS Report: 26% of Illinois Children Developmentally Ready for Kindergarten
Results from a new report from the Illinois State Board of Education show 26% of children met readiness standards for kindergarten in all of the measured areas while 39% percent met standards in none of the categories.
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lllinois Weighs How to Rebuild Child Care Program That Saw Exodus of Children, Caregivers
This recent article in Chalkbeat looks at how new Governor Pritzker is trying to to rebuild a state program that
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New Guide Helps State Education Agencies Promote Success for English Learners PreK- Grade 3
A new guide from the Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) and the Council of Chief State School Officers
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IECAM for the Child Care Community
Are you looking for Illinois early childhood data related to child care in Illinois? Click on these links to access resources, guides and tools useful to child care providers.
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New Report Sheds Light on Early Home Experiences of Latino Children
A new report from the National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families sheds light on the early home experiences of Latino children in order to better understand how these experiences are linked to their developmental trajectories.
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2019 Kids Count Data Book Released
The 30th edition of the KIDS COUNT Data Book from The Annie E. Casey Foundation is now available. The 2019
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Illinois Birth Statistics, 2009–2018
These charts can help you visualize trends in birth statistics from 2010-2018 in Illinois.
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Come explore your data with us!
Ready for some fun? Here are ideas for how to get creative with your data in order to make the most impact in your community.
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UIC Researchers Investigate Illinois Early Childhood Programs’ Expulsion Practices
Researchers from University of Illinois at Chicago have conducted a study of Illinois Early Childhood programs’ current and prior expulsion practices as well as their understanding of, and responses to, Illinois Public Act 100-0105.
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Birth Rate Maps and Visuals
This map shows the birth rate per 1,000 women by Illinois county in 2017.
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Illinois Early Childhood Funding Sees Boost of $50 Million in New State Budget
The Illinois House finished up what was perhaps the most monumental legislative session in recent memory this past weekend, after
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Just Released: Market Rate Survey of Licensed Child Care Programs in Illinois FY2018
The Illinois Department of Human Services has recently released a Market Rate Survey of Licensed Child Care Programs in Illinois
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IECAM for Advocates
IECAM provides comprehensive early childhood data and maps to Illinois stakeholders in order to improve outcomes for Illinois children. Click on the links below to access resources and tools useful to early childhood advocates.
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IECAM for Families and the General Public
Information provided by IECAM can be used by members of the general public who are interested in finding out more about publicly funded services in their area.
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Child Care and Early Education Equity Action Agenda Released
CLASP has released a state action agenda describing key state early education programs, significant challenges, and recommendations for how state
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IECAM for Legislators and Staff
IECAM provides comprehensive early childhood data and maps to local and state governmental agencies in order to make state resource allocation transparent and support data guided policy making. Click on the links below to access resources, information and tools useful to legislators and agency staff.
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IECAM for Researchers
Click these links to access tools, resources and information useful for research purposes.
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New Research Shows High-Quality ECE Strengthens Families and Can Break the Cycle of Poverty
A new analysis from Nobel laureate economist James J. Heckman and colleagues finds that targeted, high-quality early childhood investments have
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IECAM for School Staff & Administrators
Are you looking for Illinois early childhood data to support a grant application or stakeholder presentation, plan for the future, improve outcomes for your students, or understand funding allocations? Click on these links to access resources, guides and tools useful to school administrators.
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IECAM for Grant Writers
Are you looking for Illinois early childhood data to support a grant narrative or fill out a required grant-related form? You have come to the right place! Click on the buttons below to access grant-writing tools, resources and guides.
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New Report Examines How CCR&Rs Can Help Communities Meet Child Care Supply and Demand Needs
A new report from ChildCare Aware examines state-funded CCR&Rs (Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies) and other policy-focused organizations to understand their
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Where the Population is Changing 2010-2018 Map from US Census Bureau
Update: Looking for a more recent map you can click on? This interactive ESRI map visualizes population shifts across the
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IFF Statewide Early Childhood Education Needs Assessment Released
A new report from IFF takes a look at disparities in access to quality early childhood education services across Illinois.
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Updated on IECAM: the Multiyear Search Tool!
With this tool, you can discover changes over time in your area (town, school district, community area, legislative district, etc.)
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National Head Start Association Launches New Online Community
The National Head Start Association has launched a new online community called “The Block,” enabling conversation within a national network
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New CLASP Report Points to Inequitable Access to Child Care Subsidies
A new policy analysis from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) finds that just 8 percent of potentially
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Illinois Legislators to Consider a Bill Requiring Children to Start School by Age Five
Illinois legislators are considering a bill that says children must start kindergarten by age 5 instead of 6. The proposed
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State of Preschool Yearbook 2018 Released
The State of Preschool 2018 Yearbook is the 16th edition of the National Institute for Early Education Research‘s (NIEER) annual
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New Report Describes State Early Childhood Education Agency Staff and Their Priorities
A new report from the Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) at the National Institute for Early Education Research
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New Data Alert: 2017 Child Care Data from the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NCCRRA)
IECAM now offers 2017 licensed and licensed-exempt child care center and licensed family care home data for various Illinois regions.
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Inaugural Illinois Risk and Reach Report Now Available for Download
The Illinois Risk and Reach report offers a set of data tools (including a comprehensive early childhood focused report) along
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Just Released: Overview of Policy Differences Across States/Territories Implementing the CCDF Child Care Subsidy Program
This recently released brief provides a graphic overview of some of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) policy differences
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Percent of Low Birth Weight (<2,500 grams) Births by County in 2016
This map shows the percentage of births characterized by low birth weight (<2,500 grams) by Illinois County in 2016.
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FY2018 Head Start and Early Head Start Data Now Available!
IECAM now has 2018 data on Head Start and Early Head Start available. To access this information, use the tabular
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New Report Underscores Importance of Child Care Access to Boosting Maternal Employment and Earnings
A new report from the Center for American Progress highlights the relationship between child care and maternal employment and underscores
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NCSL Report Lists New Early Care and Education Bills Signed into Law Across the US in 2018
The National Conference of State Legislature (NCSL) has tracked 2018 legislation across the United States related to child care, prekindergarten,
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In Memory of Dr. Edward Zigler, “Father of Head Start”
Developmental psychologist and pioneer in early education Dr. Edward Ziglar passed away last month. He was 88 years old. Dr.
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Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Maps, 2016 and 2017
The map below shows the percentage of children age 5 and under whose families received assistance from IDHS for their
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New Report on Educator Shortage Shows 20% of Early Childhood Positions in Illinois Remain Unfilled or Filled by an Unqualified Professional
A new report from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, Southern Illinois University and Goshen Education Consulting demonstrates
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Governor Pritzker, Mayor Emanuel Announce Chicago Expansion of Full-Day Pre-Kindergarten
Governor JB Pritzker, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Schools, and the Department of Family and Support Services recently announced the
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New Data Update: IDHS Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
IECAM recently updated its Illinois Department of Human Services Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) data. This new information includes the
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Types of Information on IECAM
This 1-minute video describes the types and forms of information found on the IECAM website.
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New Report Evaluates Pre-K Programs in Forty U.S. Cities
A newly-released report has found that while cities have been expanding availability of publicly-funded pre-K to young children, many of
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Illinois Risk and Reach Report Sneak Peek: Services and Resources Don’t Always Match Up
This past Monday, the Erikson Institute gave a sneak peek of its Illinois Risk and Reach report at the City
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Introducing IECAM
Find out who uses IECAM and why in this 1-minute video!
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Percentage of Births to Mothers Over the Age of Twenty Who Are Not High School Graduates, by Illinois County (2016)
This chart uses data from the Illinois Department of Public Health and shows only those counties with a percentage over
Read moreNew Research Study Shows Quality Early Childhood Education Reduces Need for Special Education Later On
A team of special education researchers has concluded, in a report sponsored by Memorial University, that participation in quality early
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New Data Additions: 2018 Migrant and Seasonal Head Start
To find 2018 Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Program data on our website, navigate to IECAM’s tabular data search ,
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