Legislative Agenda
The Ounce of Prevention Fund persistently pursues a single goal: that all children - particularly those born into poverty - have high-quality early childhood experiences in the crucial first five years of life. Why? Because the research is clear: public investments in young children produce the greatest returns, especially in difficult economic times. Illinois' ability to meet current and future challenges depends on protecting and prioritizing critical early childhood programs.
- Restore the $17 million FY2012 cut to the Early Childhood Block Grant (funded by the Illinois State Board of Education) and return to a path of Preschool for All, prioritizing our youngest and most at-risk children
- Maintain funding for home visiting programs (Healthy Families and Parents Too Soon budget lines in the Department of Human Services) to protect federal funding
- Protect Child Care Assistance Program funding
- Restore funding for bilingual education by $7 million, needed in part to meet the statutory requirement to provide bilingual education to preschool students
- Oppose efforts to reduce the amount of revenue available and support efforts to creatively respond to Illinois' fiscal crisis
Oppose HB5363 and defend the Human Services Commission's recommendations for the reorganization of the Department of Human Services
Support the continuation of the Associates of Arts for Teaching (AAT) in Early Childhood Education and oppose efforts to eliminate the AAT
Support SB3601 to ensure more streamlined efforts to improve the quality of child care services by administering Child Care Licensing in the Department of Human Services
Support improvements to the Early Intervention system for infants and toddlers with suspected delays through increased transparency and oversight
- Support SB3571 to renew the Early Intervention Legislative Advisory Committee
- Support HB4716 to expand the membership of the Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention