OAK LAWN, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois’ Smart Start preschool program will add 5,150 publicly funded preschool seats as part of a plan to reach universal preschool by 2027.
Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education announced the addition to the program on Friday.
“This is another historic step forward for early childhood education in Illinois, bringing us 5,150 seats closer to our goal of Universal Pre-K,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “Every Illinois child deserves our full investment starting in their earliest years. Smart Start Illinois will put our children on the path to growth and opportunity while making our communities stronger, healthier, and more connected.”
The Smart Start program was launched in 2024, with the aim of eliminating gaps in access to preschool for low-income families.
The $32.2 million in funding for the program comes from the Fiscal Year 2025 Early Childhood Block Grants.
- Preschool for All: A total of $15.63 million awarded to 51 programs to serve 4,008 additional children.
- Preschool for All Expansion: A total of $9.70 million awarded to 25 programs to serve 1,142 additional children.
- Prevention Initiative: A total of $6.85 million awarded to 15 programs to serve 512 additional children.
The Illinois State Board of Education said it would also award grants to further support the quality of early childhood programs, including funding to boost compensation for early childhood educators.
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January 24, 2025 at 11:47AM
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