McLean County Times

 State Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Pontiac) wants to be clear about what an extra $54 million buys you in the world of early childhood education. 

“I appreciate the conversations and I agree that if we don’t get our kids off on the right step, they have trouble and are behind pretty much through high school,” Bennett said during a Feb. 8 House Appropriations-Elementary and Secondary Education Committee hearing on the issue of funding in the next budget for early childhood education.

“This $50-some million used to expand programs, perhaps more hours, more kids,” Bennett said. “And then, also, increase in salaries. Can someone talk to me in more specifics about how that money breaks down? Where are we at today and where is this $54 million going to get us to?”

Illinois Council for a Strong America Director Sean Noble told Bennett state officials are keen on expanding programs for children and doing what it takes to maintain the quality of the system.

“The state board does have a set-aside of several million dollars, and I can’t remember the specific amount, but they have talked about this, also about trying to focus more on the workforce matters,” Noble said. “The breakdown is going to be in the details coming in the weeks ahead. Typically policymakers are looking very much at how many more children can we add to programs and one of the messages that we want to send is that we really need to ensure that we are thinking more about that salary compensation, benefits side of the equation because that would help to shore up quality.”

In recently revealing his 2023 fiscal year budget, Gov. J.B. Pritzker highlighted a 10% increase in funding for certain early childhood programs, including an additional $350 million for evidence-based funding for K-12 schools, a $96 million increase for transportation and special education and a $54 million hike for early childhood education.

The budget keeps in place current funding levels for other key early childhood programs, including early intervention (EI), the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and IDHS-funded home visiting programs.

Chalkbeat Chicago reports the increase in education spending that Pritzker outlined during his recent State of the State and Budget Address marks the first such proposal since the pandemic hit.

Pritzker’s plan also calls for an increase in funding for minority teacher scholarships.