Illinois

 

Our 2012 Policy Priorities

 

In 2012, America’s Edge members will be urging their state legislators and Congressional delegation to do the following:

a.     State Policy Priorities:

  • Maintain full funding in the FY 2013 for the Early Childhood Education Block Grant (“Preschool for All”) and seek to restore the 5% FY2012 cuts to the program; and
  • Maintain funding for the Illinois child care assistance program.

b.            Federal Policy Priorities:

  • Fighting against cuts, and where possible seek increases, for Head Start, Early Head Start and both the discretionary and mandatory funding streams of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG);
  • Working to improve the quality of Head Start/Early Head Start and CCDBG through the reauthorization of these programs.

 

Read about Career Academies here.


 

Did you know that in Illinois:

  • 3.2 million children (to the age of 18) live in the state;
  • 1 out of every 3 children live in a household with only one parent;
  • 67 percent of eighth graders are below grade level in math;
  • 67 percent of fourth graders are reading below grade level; and
  • 21 percent of high school students do not graduate on time with a high school diploma.

Click here for the complete Illinois Fact Sheet.


 Legislative Meetings

 

On May 2, 2011, America’s Edge members Kevin Weinacht, President of Weinacht & Associates, Wendi Valenti, Executive Director of the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce and Karen Wilson, Owner of Karen Wilson State Farm met with Representatives Dwight Kay (R) and Thomas Holbrook (D). Our members introduced America’s Edge to Kay and Holbrook and made the case to maintain funding for Preschool for All.

 

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L-R: Wendi Valenti, Rep. Thomas Holbrook (D) and Karen Wilson

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L-R: Wendi Valenti, Kevin Weinacht, Rep. Dwight Kay (R) and Karen Wilson

 


America’s Edge Releases New Report


Click here to read the report entitled, “Strengthening Illinois Business through Investments in Early Care and Education”

 


 

America’s Edge Illinois in the News

 

Cutting early child care and education programs would be short-sighted and bad business for Illinois.”

–Bill Cox, The Brown Drug Company, Quincy, IL

Other

The Quincy Herald Whig’s story about the release- “Cheerful Home cites funding shortfalls in Illinois in decision to drop preschool program.”


 

*For more information, please contact Alena Chaps at (312) 288-8229 or achaps@AmericasEdge.org