Stay up to date on policy and advocacy issues impacting early childhood.


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We had some great policy wins this year!
Close of legislative session includes significant funding increases

The legislative session closed with the passage of an
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FY20 state budget that provides significant funding for the state’s early childhood system and the passage of many bills that impact early childhood by doing the following:

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Removing barriers for educator licensure
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Expanding Early Intervention access for children exposed to lead and increasing provider reimbursement rates for the first time in over a decade
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Directing $100 million in state capital funding to early childhood providers in communities with the greatest underserved populations of children under age five
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Addressing infant and maternal mortality, particularly for children and mothers of color

For detailed information about the legislation,
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read more here .







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Let’s say thank you!

Thank your lawmakers and the governor on the passage of a budget that supports early childhood investments.


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Read on for important advocacy updates
New report on Illinois law addressing early childhood expulsions
Closer examination of 150 Illinois programs

A new report on an Illinois law prohibiting early childhood expulsion sheds light on legislation that went into effect in January 2018, which prohibited expulsion from early childhood and care programs funded by the Illinois State Board of Education or licensed by the Department of Children and Families.


The Ounce appreciates Dr. Kate Zinsser and her team of researchers at the University of Chicago at Illinois, who spent ample time reviewing the state’s expulsion practices and current legislation and publishing their findings in a new report.


For detailed information on the report and next steps,
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read more here .

ISBE releases second KIDS report
Findings underscore the need for early education programs

The Illinois State Board of Education released its second year of statewide data from the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS), an observational tool designed to help teachers, administrators, families and policymakers better understand the developmental readiness of children entering kindergarten.


It provides kindergarten teachers with information to guide classroom instruction, help parents understand expectations, and offers both lawmakers and school administrators’ valuable insight on resources and supports young children need to succeed.


Read the press release and
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full report here .






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This legislator is working hard for Early Childhood
Rep. Theresa Mah ensures funding to early learning providers

The Ounce applauds
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Rep. Theresa Mah as she worked tirelessly to ensure the $12 million owed to early learning providers was included in the FY20 budget. She also worked to include correct language in the final budget bill so providers could resume facilities projects and be repaid for work completed during the budget impasse.


Several early childhood providers around the state were owed money for building projects funded by the first-ever Early Childhood Construction Grant program, created in 2009. Due to the state’s budget impasse which began in 2015, grants to school districts and nonprofit providers for the construction or renovation of early childhood facilities were held up.


While the FY19 budget included the spending authority for Capital Development Board to make payments, they did not have the ability to pay out funds for costs incurred during the three-year impasse. This forced some providers to find other resources to complete their projects; many were unable to build new early childhood classrooms; and still others had to stop work after already taking initial steps in their projects.


Thanks to Rep. Mah for ensuring that our state’s providers have the resources to provide early learning opportunities for both school districts and nonprofits to our state’s youngest learners.






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These policy wins help moms
Maternal mortality findings lead to newly passed bills

In late 2018, the Illinois Department of Public Health
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released a report describing the high maternal morbidity and mortality rates in Illinois. The report documented stark racial disparities especially detrimental for non-Hispanic Black women. Last summer, State Rep. Mary Flowers held a series of hearings to gather input from a range of stakeholders on strategies to improve these disparities.


During this legislative session, Rep. Flowers and other lawmakers took action with the passage of several bills meant to tackle this issue, particularly among African American women. Although much work remains on the issue,
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these bills will advance the state’s ability to reduce preventable deaths and improve outcomes for women and their infants.




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The Ounce of Prevention Fund gives children in poverty the best chance for success in school and in life by advocating for and providing the highest-quality care and education from birth to age five.

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