Gov. Quinn Partially Restores Preschool Funding
August 4, 2009CHICAGO - Gov. Pat Quinn announced Friday he would direct an additional $85 million to the state's early childhood program. Even with the new infusion of money, early childhood programs will still endure a 10 percent cut compared to last year.
"Finally, one of our elected officials has done the right thing and partially restored funding that is vital for low-income children in our state," said Diana Rauner, Executive Director of the Ounce of Prevention Fund. "But the fact remains that preschool funding was cut, and education officials will have to make tough decisions that will impact vulnerable children."
Gov. Quinn made his decision after a week of mounting pressure by education and children's advocates. The Illinois State Board of Education had announced last week it would have to cut $123 million, or 32 percent, from early childhood programs. The drastic budget cut would have would have kicked 30,000 children out of preschool programs.
Preschools are now resubmitting their budgets to the Illinois State Board of Education based on the new funding. Details on what elements of programs will be cut and how many children will be affected remain uncertain.
"Restoring some preschool funding for the current fiscal year doesn't mask the gaping hole in the state budget," Rauner said. "Lawmakers need to have the state's priorities in place before they begin negotiating the FY 2011 budget. Even in a tight economy, preschool is one of the best public investments we can make because it saves the state money in the long term and ensures a stronger workforce in the future."
Restoring the preschool funding will also keep Illinois eligible for new federal money for early childhood initiatives. The Early Learning Challenge Fund, passed by a U.S. House of Representatives committee July 21, would offer grants to states to build and improve high-quality early learning systems. If the 32 percent preschool cut was enacted, funding would have dropped below FY 2006 levels, making Illinois ineligible for the federal grants worth $50 million a year for eight years.
"The Early Learning Challenge Fund would be an unprecedented federal investment in early childhood programs," Rauner said. "Both Gov. Quinn and the General Assembly must protect these programs going forward so that Illinois can capitalize on the federal funds."
Illinois' flagship early learning program, Preschool for All, is funded by the Early Childhood Block Grant, which also funds programs for low-income infants and toddlers. In the 2008-2009 school year, Preschool for All served about 95,000 children at 1,500 programs operated by local school districts and community-based agencies.
Preschool for All was signed into law in 2006 to bolster the state's existing preschool program and build up a voluntary, universal preschool system for all 3- and 4-year-old children. Both Preschool for All and infant-toddler programs give low-income children the opportunity they wouldn't otherwise have to arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed.
Cuts to early childhood programs would threaten the future economic health of the state. Economists unanimously say that now, when the budget is tightest, is when states should be investing public dollars in programs such as early childhood education that have the best long-term return on investment. Every dollar spent on high-quality early childhood programs for disadvantaged children creates $7 to $9 in future savings. At-risk children with quality early-learning opportunities are less likely to need special education and more likely to graduate from high school, earn more money, and contribute more tax dollars. Effective early childhood development programs help reduce teenage pregnancy, crime, and other social burdens.
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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