Agencies
Services
Preschool for All Expansion
The Preschool for All Expansion (PFAE) program provides high-quality preschool to eligible families with children ages 3-5, serving high-need communities. PFAE programs provide at least 5 hours of education daily and include comprehensive developmental screenings and services in the areas of medical, dental, and mental health. PFAE programs use a standards-aligned, research-based curriculum, and are monitored to ensure that programs are providing children with a strong foundation to be successful throughout their school experience.
PFAE programs also include targeted supports pertaining to family engagement, instructional practices, and positive behavioral and social-emotional development. In addition to licensed early childhood teachers, program staff includes a family educator, instructional leader, and mental health consultant. Specific requirements for implementing the Preschool for All Expansion grant can be found within the compliance checklist (items 1-37) and the Illinois Administrative Code 2050.
Programmatic Guidance
- PFA/PFAE Administrator Checklist
- PFAE Weighted Eligibility Form
- Income Verification FAQ
- Lesson Planning FAQ
- Portfolio FAQ
- Early Childhood Licensure
- ECERS Playground Guidance
- ECBG Attendance Guidance
- ECERS Weather Permitting Guidance
- Behavior Support and Program Transition Plans FAQ
- ECBG Behavior Support Plan
- ECBG Transition Plan
- Preschool Plan for Serving McKinney-Vento Eligible Children and Families
- USDA Meal Pattern for Children
- Serving English Language Learners in Preschool Programs FAQ
- Head Start and PFA Memorandum of Understanding (Example)
- Comprehensive Services Memorandum of Understanding (Sample)
Accountability: Monitoring and Continuous Quality Improvement
- DEC PFA/PFAE Compliance Checklist
- DEC PFA-PFAE Compliance Checklist Word Version
- Preparing for Compliance Checklist Review
- Monitoring Process and Compliance Checklist FAQ (09.26)
- CQIP Instructions
- CQIP Compliance Checklist Template
- CQIP ECERS-3 Template
- CQIP Instructional Webinar
- CQIP Instructional Webinar PowerPoint Presentation
- CQIP Resources
Illinois Preschool for All / Preschool for All Expansion Manual
Complete Implementation Manual
- Introduction
- Recruitment, Enrollment & Records
- Children with Disabilities
- English Learners
- The Early Learning Environment
- Schedule
- Early Learning Curriculum & Assessment
- Social Emotional Learning
- Transition Plans
- Parent & Family Engagement
- Community Collaboration
- Personnel
- Professional Development
- Budget and Reporting
- Program Accountability
- Preschool Expansion
- Acronym Glossary
Additional Resources
- Early Childhood Professional Development
- Prekindergarten to Kindergarten Transition Resources
- Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards (IELDS)
- Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards (IELDS) - Spanish
- Illinois Early Learning Project Tip Sheets for Families
- Sample Instructional Leader Job Description
- Sample Individual Professional Development Plan
- Sample Family Education Support Specialist Job Description
- Sample Parent/Family Participation Log
- Sample Family Goal Template
- Sample Partnership Agreement
Family Child Care Resources