The news that Illinois did not receive funding in the first round of federal Early Learning Challenge grants is certainly disappointing (“Never too early,” Editorial, Dec. 16). But the application process afforded state advocates, the education community and public officials the opportunity to collaborate in new ways to identify and begin to problem solve around areas where our existing early learning system needs improvements.
We know that investments in birth-to-5 learning are critical to reforming and improving our state education system and growing the economy. State advocates and officials partnered to map out a vision for a more unified early education and child care system that will move existing programs from adequate to good, and from good to great. Although we did not receive challenge funds this year, children and families will still benefit from our commitment to push forward, implementing efficiencies and system changes identified during the application process. We will work together to secure public and private funding for the innovations that were proposed.
The Early Learning Challenge has been called a “game-changer,” and there was a tremendous bipartisan appetite among states for the funding. So much so that demand clearly outstripped the $500 million appropriated this fiscal year. Illinois may not have won funding this year, but we’re not at all out of this game. We remain committed to giving all children in the state access to the high-quality early-learning programs that prepare them for success in school, the workplace and life. The Ounce of Prevention Fund joins the chorus of other state advocates and officials applauding Congress for recognizing the importance of early learning and encouraging it to make additional rounds of Early Learning Challenge grants available so that we can further our efforts to create brighter horizons for children.
— Diana Mendley Rauner, president, Ounce of Prevention Fund, Chicago
