Author: bakoenig

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.

As Illinois gears up for a new school year, here are some headlines of interest for the early childhood community: With 8,000 vacancies across city pre-Ks, Lightfoot urges Chicago families to apply This article looks at how the mayor is

A new study conducted by Abt Associates is offering an up-to-date, nationally representative picture of the families and children served by Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs. MSHS programs provide early childhood education, social and support services to a diverse

The 2019 Illinois Poverty Data and Well-Being Index developed by the Heartland Alliance Social Impact Research Center indicates that 67 Illinois counties are on a poverty watch list – up from 52 last year. The report, which includes an interactive

The Collaborative for Children’s Health Policy, a new statewide collaborative dedicated to achieving child health equity in Illinois, has announced three initiatives as part of their policy framework. These initiatives focus on access to care, mental health and the underlying

After several years of budget cuts, Illinois early intervention providers will see their reimbursement rates increase effective July 1, 2019.

A recent Chicago Tribune article reports that the DuPage Children’s Museum is expanding and reframing programming in response to the Illinois Risk and Reach Report released this spring by the Erikson Institute in collaboration with the Illinois Early Childhood Asset

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.

This recent article in Chalkbeat looks at how new Governor Pritzker is trying to to rebuild a state program that helps pay for child care so that low-income parents and college students can work or attend school.

A new guide from the Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) supports state education agencies and early education partners in developing research-based policy that can lead to more intentional decision

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.

The 30th edition of the KIDS COUNT Data Book from The Annie E. Casey Foundation is now available. The 2019 report offers a state-by-state comparison of overall child well-being using data on 16 indicators. Among top-level findings: children in the

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.

The Illinois House finished up what was perhaps the most monumental legislative session in recent memory this past weekend, after passing the final pieces of a budget for the upcoming year as well as a $45 billion capital improvements program.

The Illinois Department of Human Services has recently released a Market Rate Survey of Licensed Child Care Programs in Illinois for the Fiscal Year 2018. This survey measures the prices charged by providers and paid by parents in given child

CLASP has released a state action agenda describing key state early education programs, significant challenges, and recommendations for how state leaders can meaningfully improve policies and programs.

A new analysis from Nobel laureate economist James J. Heckman and colleagues finds that targeted, high-quality early childhood investments have the power to lift multiple generations out of poverty. This research demonstrates the impact of high-quality early childhood experiences, as

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 approaches to closing the gap in child care supply and demand at state and local levels.

Counties with the largest numeric growth are located in the south and the west, with counties in Texas taking four out of the top 10 spots according to new U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released last month. These statistics provide population estimates,

A new report from IFF takes a look at disparities in access to quality early childhood education services across Illinois. Recommendations include: Increasing access to infant and toddler care in Illinois Growing a supply of quality providers in rural counties

The 2019 Sharing A Vision Biennial Conference, coordinated by the Illinois Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children in collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Human Services, is now accepting

This annual conference gathers together early childhood system stakeholders to learn, network, and expand their community systems knowledge and skills. The theme for this year is Equity from the Start: Community Systems Development through a Racial Equity Lens. The conference

The National Head Start Association has launched a new online community called “The Block,” enabling conversation within a national network of Head Start Colleagues. Currently, there are nine communities serving as safe spaces for NHSA members to share experiences, ideas,

A new policy analysis from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) finds that just 8 percent of potentially eligible children receive Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) subsidies based on federal income eligibility limits and just 12

Illinois legislators are considering a bill that says children must start kindergarten by age 5 instead of 6. The proposed law, Senate Bill 2075, requires that children attend kindergarten if they are 5 on or before May 31, but would

The State of Preschool 2018 Yearbook is the 16th edition of the National Institute for Early Education Research‘s (NIEER) annual report tracking state-funded preschool access, resources, and quality. National findings show preschool enrollment in state-funded programs increased slowly once again.

A new report from the Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) at the National Institute for Early Education Research describes the demographics of state early childhood education agency staff, the complexity and priorities of their work, and their visions

The Ounce of Prevention Fund Illinois Policy Team, with support from Illinois Action for Children’s Community System Statewide Supports team, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood, will be offering two FREE full-day trainings

Use this step-by-step guide to assist you in completing a slot gap analysis for your PFA/PI grant application.

This recently released brief provides a graphic overview of some of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) policy differences that exist between states and territories. The CCDF is a block grant program with federal guidelines. Within these guidelines, states

The Census Bureau is a few months away from the official launch of their new site data.census.gov (and the retirement of the American FactFinder site). Starting this summer, this new site will be the main way to access Census Bureau

A new report from the Center for American Progress highlights the relationship between child care and maternal employment and underscores how improving child care access can boost employment and earnings for working mothers.

The National Conference of State Legislature (NCSL) has tracked 2018 legislation across the United States related to child care, prekindergarten, home visiting, parent engagement and support, governance structure and program financing, and has released this report summarizing the bills that

Developmental psychologist and pioneer in early education Dr. Edward Ziglar passed away last month. He was 88 years old. Dr. Ziglar was recruited by President Lyndon B. Johnson to design and carry out the Head Start program over 50 years

A new report from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, Southern Illinois University and Goshen Education Consulting demonstrates that teacher shortages in the state are continuing to increase in severity. Staff categories having the highest percentage of unfilled

Governor JB Pritzker, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Schools, and the Department of Family and Support Services recently announced the expansion of universal full-day pre-kindergarten programs in 28 communities across Chicago. More than 100 new full-day classrooms will be added

A newly-released report has found that while cities have been expanding availability of publicly-funded pre-K to young children, many of these programs are not meeting the standards of high-quality needed to produce the most impact. The report, entitled “Pre-K in

This past Monday, the Erikson Institute gave a sneak peek of its “Illinois Risk and Reach” report at the City Club in Chicago. This report lays out 14 risk indicators faced by young children in Illinois and then shows that