Early Childhood Education & Care
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) refers to programs and supports for young children, from birth through eight years old, and their families – such as child care, preschool, home visiting, kindergarten, and the early elementary grades. These services may be provided in a home, community-based organization, or school.
Less than one third* of Illinois kindergartners begin school “ready”…
*As of 2019
Many families lack access to high-quality early childhood opportunities, particularly those from low-income communities, families of color, and those in child care deserts, which can limit their ability to fully benefit from the positive early learning experiences that help children enter school ready to succeed.
Ensuring students are academically and developmentally on track, closing opportunity gaps that begin well before kindergarten, and guaranteeing families have safe environments to place their children are key components to high-quality ECEC.
Children who participate in high-quality programs are:
More likely to be kindergarten ready
Less likely to participate in special education or remedial coursework
More likely to graduate high school and go on to college
More likely to be employed and have higher earnings
…We’re working to change that.
At Advance Illinois, we believe every child deserves access to equitable opportunities in life, beginning with experiences in the early years. To make that a reality, we need a strong ECEC system from the state to local level, combined with adequate and equitable funding.
We are an active member of the We, the Village, a group of advocates, early childhood providers, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders united in championing a stronger and more adequately and equitably funded ECEC system in Illinois.
We served on the Governor’s Equitable Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Funding Commission which was charged with making recommendations for an ECEC system that provides access to high-quality services for all Illinois children.
We continue to spotlight the equity gaps that exist for those entering kindergarten and the need for additional quality ECEC services through our research and reports, such as our bi-annual report, The State We’re In: 2019.