SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker took his proposal for increased education funding for a test drive outside of the Capitol building on Thursday, promoting its benefits in a series of downstate stops.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker at Springfield Early Learning Center.
Pritzker touted his “Start Smart Illinois” program during a visit to Springfield Early Learning Center before heading to East St. Louis and Mount Vernon in the Metro East and Southern Illinois, respectively. The tour came one day after the Chicago Democrat outlined his 2024 budget proposal for lawmakers in the annual State of the State address.
“We are talking about the time period in your life when most of brain development occurs, and that’s why this is such a delicate and important area for us to invest in,” Pritzker said.
The governor’s budget proposal includes $250 million intended to expand access to early childhood education. Pritzker said his plan would ultimately create 20,000 new preschool slots for Illinois children, aiming to eliminate “preschool deserts” — areas where preschool access is limited — by December 2027.
The proposal is specifically designed to enable low-income families access to early childhood education programs, the governor said.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaking about proposal to increase early education funding.
In addition to creating more preschool spots, the program would increase wages for childcare workers, work to create more equitable access to the childcare system, address the state’s teacher shortage and increase home visiting and early intervention programs.
“Home visiting in Illinois is an evidence-based program that has a long history in our state of improving maternal and child health, preventing child abuse and neglect, preventing crime and domestic violence, and promoting children’s development and readiness to participate in school,” Pritzker said.
State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield at Springfield Early Learning Center.
While the positive effects of early childhood development programs are known, demand may have outstripped supply in some parts of Illinois. Parents in poorer and more rural communities may struggle to find childcare programs or preschool openings within their communities, Pritzker said.
“Too many families can’t access early childhood programs at all because there are no providers or available providers near their home or work,” he said. “This program will be the beginning of the end of early childhood deserts in Illinois.”
Pritzker proposed an additional $100 million to fund construction of new childcare facilities or expansion of existing ones.
The proposal also includes 70 million to cover increased participation in the state’s Childcare Assistance Program. The state offers childcare assistance for families at up to 225% the federal poverty level.
State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield speaking about early education funding.
“We have to remove the barriers that families face when deciding if they can send their kids to school or put food on the table,” said state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, on Thursday. “A strong investment in early childhood education can give our youth a brighter tomorrow.”
Pritzker’s proposal also includes the full annual $350 million increase for K-12 education funding called for under the evidence-based formula law enacted in 2018.
Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur speaking about being a former educator.
That was welcome news to state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, who is a former teacher.
“I’m thrilled with the program suggestion,” she said. “Where is a more important place for a state to put their funding (than education)? We rely heavily on state funding in order to fund our schools and so the EBF going up is really going to help.”
Illinois lawmakers react to State of the Union
Gov. J.B. Pritzker
Via Twitter: “Look how far we’ve come this #SOTU. We’ve created good-paying jobs, rebuilt our infrastructure, tackled climate change, and protected our nation’s democracy. There’s still progress to be made for working families everywhere. As @POTUS said, let’s finish the job.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.
“After two years in office, President Biden reminded us tonight of the significant accomplishments Democrats delivered on for working families across the country. Because of our work—and despite Republican obstruction—we’re lowering the cost of prescription drugs for seniors on Medicare, bringing down inflation, investing in infrastructure improvements—including my landmark law that’s upgrading our drinking and wastewater systems—creating millions of good-paying jobs, boosting manufacturing, supporting our Veterans and tackling the climate crisis. On top of all that, President Biden signed into law the most sweeping gun safety reforms in 30 years and kept the NATO alliance together in support of Ukraine against Russia’s war of choice.
“While we’ve made a lot of progress, the President and I know that we can’t let up now. Women’s health is on the line as Republicans work to enact a nation-wide abortion ban and strip away women’s access to reproductive care—but Democrats are working to enshrine the protections of Roe v. Wade into law. We also know we need to address police and criminal justice reform, make quality child care more affordable, enact paid leave, keep pushing prices down and much, much more. I share President Biden’s hope that Republicans will put aside partisan fighting, come to the negotiating table and make working families—not wealthy donors—the top priority so we can improve the lives of everyday Americans.”
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.
“Thanks to President Biden and Congressional Democrats, we have made tremendous progress over the past two years. In February 2021, we were in the throes of a global pandemic and reckoning with a deadly insurrection in the Capitol that had taken place just one month earlier. Two years later, we have seen record-breaking job creation, new roads and bridges being built, the uninsured rate at historic lows, and we are finally confronting the climate crisis—all while lowering the deficit by $1.7 trillion.
“In the next two years, I look forward to continuing to work with the President to deliver on his ‘Unity Agenda,’ as well as supporting Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty against Putin’s unjust and unprovoked invasion. These are bipartisan issues we can all agree on.
“The President also called on Congress to reduce child poverty through the expanded Child Tax Credit; extend the $35 per month insulin cap to all Americans; and combat gun violence and take action on police reform in order to make our communities safer. I urge my Republican colleagues to join us in these efforts.
“Now, as President Biden said, ‘we need to finish the job.’ Let’s continue to deliver for the American people as we did in the last two years.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro
“Tonight, President Biden did what he does best; take credit where no credit is due and deny responsibility for his failures. On his watch, we’ve seen the highest gas prices in history and the highest inflation in 40 years. Southern Illinois families are debating whether to fill their gas tanks or their refrigerators. Our communities are reeling from violence in our streets and fentanyl pouring across our southern border unchecked. And from his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan to the Chinese spy balloon just last week, he has signaled to our enemies that we are no longer to be feared. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot put lipstick on this pig.”
U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield
“Tonight’s speech from President Biden laid out a number of priorities that lower costs, support good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree and help folks in Central and Southern Illinois keep more of what they earn. While I would have liked to hear the President address the need to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill, I was encouraged to hear about our shared efforts to support American manufacturing and union jobs, protect Social Security and Medicare, restore the full Child Tax Credit, ensure access to mental health care for every veteran and cap insulin prices at $35 a month for every American. Let’s work together and get the job done.”
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap
“Illinoisans are feeling the pain of two years under President Biden and one-party Democrat rule in Washington, with forty-year high inflation, skyrocketing energy costs, a fentanyl crisis from an overrun southern border, and rising violent crime. That’s why the American people elected a Republican House Majority to address these kitchen table issues, rein in out-of-control spending, and place a check on the Biden Administration.
“I agree that we can and should work in a bipartisan way on issues including combating growing threats from China and the increasing harm fentanyl and opioids are doing to our communities. However, tonight we heard much of the same failed policies and rhetoric that we’ve witnessed over the past two years. Instead of shifting blame, President Biden should work to find commonsense solutions with Republicans in Congress to reduce costs, curb inflation, secure our border, and reduce crime.”
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland
Miller announced before the State of the Union that she would not attend the event. In a statement released Monday, she said: “Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up President Trump’s State of the Union Address, which celebrated a secure border, support for our military, and American energy independence. Joe Biden’s presidency has been filled with lie after lie, especially lies about the border being secure, inflation being temporary, and the DOJ targeting parents for attending school board meetings. I will not be attending Biden’s State of the Union to listen to him lie about the damage he has caused to our country while the left-wing media and members of Congress applaud his lies.”
U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Moline
“I was encouraged to hear the President talk about the progress we’ve made to create jobs, lower unemployment, and bolster our physical and technological infrastructure. And yet, there is more work to be done to solve the problems Illinoisans face every day. So many of our neighbors still feel the impact of higher costs for gas, groceries, medications, and more. I look forward to partnering with anyone, Democrat or Republican, to produce solutions that will make life easier for working families in Central and Northwest Illinois.”
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February 17, 2023 at 10:45PM
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