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For Immediate Release: 2.17.21
EARLY CHILDHOOD FUNDED IN GOV. PRITZKER’S BUDGET PROPOSAL
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER
Chicago – Early care and education in Illinois will see a mix of cuts and level funding in Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed state budget, as indicated in his State of the State and Budget Address delivered at the Capitol on Wednesday.
Governor Pritzker’s proposed FY22 budget includes the following General Revenue Fund (GRF) funding levels for early childhood programs:
- $543.7 million, or flat funding, for the Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG)
- $410.6 million, or a $20 million decrease to Level funding to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) from state sources
- Combined $16.9 million, or flat funding for DHS-funded home visiting
- $108. 9 million, or a $7 million cut to funding for Early Intervention (EI) from state sources
While federal relief dollars will make up for proposed cuts to the Child Care budget, they will not cover cuts to Early Intervention. The use of temporary federal funds to cover reductions in state funding should be cautioned against, particularly for temporary enrollment declines.
IAFC supports the Governor’s efforts to close nearly $1 billion in corporate tax loopholes. Additionally, the state needs more revenue to invest in recovery and sustainability long term, especially in the recovery of the Black and Latinx children and families disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The need, from child care to housing to social-emotional supports, has never been greater.
“We applaud the Governor and his administration for their prioritization of early childhood and stewardship of federal relief funds throughout this unprecedented time—particularly given the many difficult decisions they have had to make,” said April Janney, President and CEO of Illinois Action for Children. “The pandemic has served to highlight the deeply embedded racial and economic disparities families face—and we need a bold, imaginative budget and more aggressive revenue strategies to address our state’s many challenges head-on.”
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Illinois Action for Children
As a state and national leader in the early care and education field, Illinois Action for Children is distinguished by its “Strong Families, Powerful Communities” approach to child development, Pre-K and Head Start, and other family and community supports. Learn more at www.actforchildren.org.
