Pritzker signs legislation to enhance early childhood programs

Illinois has a new plan to help the 875,000 children under five, building on the governor’s focus on early childhood development.

Calling it “the beginning of a new era,” Governor JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed legislation creating a new state agency focused on early childhood programs.

“Our goal is to be the best state in the nation to raise young children,” Pritzker said.

Education experts say the brain is most adaptable to learning in the first five years of life, a crucial period for children and parents. Three agencies provide childhood services in Illinois: the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and DCFS. The groups handle the administration of early childhood block grants, subsidize the cost of child care, and issue licenses to daycare providers.

Under the new law, the services will fall under one umbrella agency.

“It’s hard enough juggling all the responsibilities that fall on the shoulders of parents and on top of that, they shouldn’t have to navigate a complex bureaucracy to get the care that they and their children deserve,” Pritzker said.

State Rep. Mary Beth Canty (D-Arlington Heights) applauded the move.

“(For) families with kids needing extra support as they grow, the current system overwhelms them with duplication of forms and criteria. Today, we’re making progress, ensuring those parents and caregivers have a helping hand,” Canty said.

The plan passed the Springfield legislature with bipartisan support, but Republicans raised concerns about the cost of the new cabinet-level agency. The annual bill is to be determined.

“I know there are people who want to complain about creating a new agency and will that end up costing the taxpayers, I really don’t think it will. I think there’s real efficiency in taking programs that are desperately located in different departments and bringing them all together.

The Pritzker administration estimates the two-year phase-in period will cost $13 million.

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