Governor Pritzker Introduces Proposed FY2023 Budget
The budget includes a 10% increase in funding for certain early childhood programs
Gov. Pritzker today announced details of his FY2023 budget. The budget includes:
- A $350 million increase for evidence-based funding for K-12 schools
- A $96 million increase for transportation and special education
- A $54 million increase for early childhood education
- $300 million to Strengthen and Grow Child Care Grants
- An increase in MAP funding to $600 million, a one-year $122 million increase that will up the maximum award to 50% of tuition at public universities and expand eligibility to students enrolled in short-term certificate programs.
- $230 million to pay off the unfunded liability for College Illinois!
- An increase in funding for minority teacher scholarships
The proposals amount to a 10% increase for preschool, evidence-based home visiting services, and center-based infant-toddler programs funded by the Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG) at the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The budget maintains current funding levels for other key early childhood programs, such as early intervention (EI), the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and IDHS-funded home visiting programs.
According to Chalkbeat Chicago, "this is the first year since the start of the pandemic that the governor has proposed an increase in education spending during his State of the State and Budget Address."
Start Early has released a response to Pritzker's budget announcement, applauding the new education funding for Illinois’ early childhood programs while also calling for additional state funding to meet the needs of families and providers across the state.
Advance Illinois has also released a response, applauding the recommended increase in the Early Childhood Block Grant and expressing hope that the General Assembly will find ways to make additional (and complementary) investments in Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), Home Visiting (HV), and Early Intervention (EI) programs.
Raising Illinois, a partnership of diverse individuals and organizations across Illinois supporting ages 0-3 (PN3), has also issued a response to the proposed budget.