Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton were in Macomb on Tuesday. The governor visited MacArthur Early Childhood Center yesterday to discuss his FY24 budget proposal.
MacArthur Early Childhood Center supports approximately 130 pre-kindergarten and preschool students ages three to five years old. The children who attend this program benefit socially, intellectually, and physically from participation in quality group care experiences and active parental involvement. The Center prioritizes student’s social, emotional, mental, and physical development.
“Smart Start Illinois is all about quality childcare and early education giving children the best care possible start,,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This program will be the beginning of the end of early childhood deserts in Illinois providing working families with more options for their children’s care and education. I’m also proud to launch the nation’s first Early Childhood Workforce Compensation Contract program, bringing stability to the field by increasing wages for a workforce that is primarily women and people of color, so we can attract and retain more professionals into the early childhood space.”
Beginning with a $250 million investment in programs and $100 million in facilities, Smart Start Illinois makes proven investments backed by years of research that has demonstrated real returns for families and taxpayers. In the next school year alone, the program will add an additional 5,000 preschool spots across Illinois and soon after, every 3-and-4-year-old in the state will have the opportunity to enroll in a preschool program.
“With Smart Start Illinois, we’re providing stable funding for high-quality programming, and pushing forward an expanded workforce that can succeed alongside the next generation,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “We can all imagine something bigger and greater for our children and our working families, because we are laying out the vision to get there today. I am proud to work beside Governor Pritzker to make this plan a reality.”
The multi-year Smart Start Illinois plan will provide every child with access to preschool, increase funding to childcare providers to raise wages and quality, invest in new expanded early childhood facilities, and reach more vulnerable families with early support. Smart Start Illinois demonstrates the state’s ongoing commitment to children, families, teachers, and childcare providers. The $250 million investment in FY24 includes.
Over the coming days, Governor Pritzker will continue to visit childcare facilities, learning centers, and schools across the state to promote his “Smart Start Illinois” early childhood education proposal to bring affordable preschool and childcare to families in every corner of Illinois.
