Beginning of Illinois’ Spring 2020 Legislative Session

The state legislative session is now underway. Development of the state’s FY 2021 budget began when Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivered his budget proposal on February 19. Work will now shift to the General Assembly as it begins to hold hearings to develop its own proposal, along with other legislation. In preparation for these efforts, the Ounce’s Illinois Policy Team, along with its legislative champions and advocacy partners, have filed a number of bills and resolutions to help advance early childhood priorities.

Learn more about the Ounce’s budget requests and legislative priorities for the current legislative session.

In addition, the Pritzker administration’s Commission for Equitable Funding for Early Childhood Education and Care continues to meet to establish goals and make recommendations on the funding levels needed, as well as financing and governance mechanisms needed, to significantly advance early childhood education and care services for children birth to age 5.

Provide your feedback today to help children and families tomorrow

Illinois Department of Public Health soliciting important feedback

Results used to inform Title V Block Grant Program

The Illinois Department of Public Health, in partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago's Division of Specialized Care for Children and School of Public Health, is collecting feedback from consumers to better understand and meet the needs of women, infants, children and families across the state. Feedback is being collected as part of the 2020 Needs Assessment for the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Services (Title V) Block Grant Program and will help guide the work for the 2021-2025 grant cycle. Responses will be accepted through March 25.

Survey is available in English and in Spanish.

Stay in the know with these advocacy updates

Announcing Illinois Prenatal to Three Initiative

Policy agenda now available

Last year, Illinois began planning efforts to develop a strategic policy agenda and implementation plan that prioritized the expansion of high-quality services for low-income infants and toddlers, with an ambitious goal to serve an additional 25% of Illinois’ infant/toddler population by 2023, and an additional 50% of the low-income infant/toddler population by 2025. The Prenatal to Three Initiative (PN3) aims to:

Increase the number of families with children prenatal to age 3 who are connected to essential health, development and social emotional support services.
Increase the number of low-income infants and toddlers receiving affordable, high-quality care.

Through the generous support of the Irving Harris, McCormick and Stone Foundations, hundreds of stakeholders engaged to inform PN3. You can view the final agenda here. If interested in contributing to the advancement of these priorities, please email [email protected].

What is KIDS?

Showcasing KIDS MVPs

The Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) assessment tool is used by educators to observe and collect information about children’s development in math, literacy and social-emotional skills at kindergarten entry in order to support children’s learning throughout the year. Data from the tool informs classroom planning and instruction and provides educators with information about individual students and whole-class skills to guide instruction and resources where needed.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) recently recognized five KIDS MVPs, educators across Illinois who were exemplary in using the KIDS tool to support their students.

Now in its third year of full implementation, ISBE plans to release its annual report containing fall 2019 data later this spring.

Hear from a seasoned early childhood advocate

Meet Quanzina Haynes

Mother of two and member of Educare Chicago Alumni Network

Quanzina Haynes has attended the Ounce’s annual Early Childhood Advocacy Day for more than five years. Although her two sons are both now teenagers, she still sees value in supporting early childhood education – especially since both boys benefited from early learning during their time at Educare Chicago.

Hear from Quanzina about her experiences as both a mother and advocate, and learn how to join her at this year’s Advocacy Day on April 29!

Don’t forget to vote!

Illinois’ Primary Election, March 17

The next Illinois general primary election is Tuesday, March 17. Early voting is now underway at official election locations. The Illinois State Board of Elections offers information on office positions up for election and allows you to search for filed candidates. This year’s primary will feature several local officials, in addition to Presidential candidates.

Are you registered to vote? If not, Illinois law allows you to register now through Election Day. Learn more about early voting and grace period voter registration.

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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