Workgroups

As the Early Childhood Transition begins the work of system integration and redesign, we will establish ad hoc workgroups on specific focus areas or topics and engage stakeholders from across the state and early childhood education and care ecosystem to ensure that this process is grounded in the recommendations of those most impacted by the system. These recommendations will be used to inform future policy and system changes in the new Department of Early Childhood.

Workgroups will be launched beginning Spring 2024 and continue over the next two years. Please continue to check back for additional information or new workgroups or sign up here to receive updates on upcoming engagement opportunities. 

Illinois is bringing all early childhood programs under one roof under one new state agency --- the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC). We are looking for parents, families, providers, and other stakeholders to participate on workgroups to hear how to make the system work better for you!  Our goal is a simpler, better and fairer early childhood system in Illinois.

Members of workgroups will be expected to attend regular meetings (typically monthly) as well as 1-2 hours of pre-work or discussion in between meetings. Workgroups will start later this fall/early winter.

Please fill out this form to let us know if you are interested in serving on a workgroup:

• Interest Form (English)
• Formulario de Interés (Español)

The Program Standards Alignment Workgroup (PSAW) will inform the Illinois Department of Early Childhood’s (IDEC) approach for aligning birth–to–five program standards and expectations with a vision of a continuum of quality that supports successful transition to kindergarten. The workgroup will advise IDEC on establishing a shared vision for standards grounded in children’s and families’ needs; identifying alignment, discrepancies, and/or gaps, across existing standards and requirements; articulating shared, developmentally appropriate, and culturally inclusive best practices; and reducing unnecessary administrative burden while strengthening quality supports for providers.

Program Standards Alignment Workgroup Members

This workgroup will focus on collecting feedback and making recommendations for an overall advisory function that informs the work of the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) by bringing in providers, workforce, and families in addition to advocates. 

Advisory Workgroup Members

The workgroups objectives are to:

• Develop recommendations for the desired end state: what do we want the advisory function to look like? 

• Describe the current state: what does the advisory function currently look like? 

• Engage in discussion on how to get from the current state to the desired end state: identify immediate next steps – and ongoing processes for IDEC as the advisory function evolves. 

In collaboration with and in support of the development of the new agency, this workgroup will develop specific recommendations to align and improve early childhood services, programs, and supports for children with disabilities and developmental delays, their families, and the practitioners who support them.

Supporting Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays Workgroup Members

This workgroup will have an intentional focus on

• Promoting inclusion of children with disabilities and developmental delays in their natural environment/least restrictive environments
• Improving social-emotional skills and knowledge (outcomes)
• Creating seamless transitions from services under IDEA Part C/Early Intervention to IDEA Part B 619/ECSE, and then onto IDEA Part B 611/K-12
• Identifying opportunities for structural program alignment between Part C and Part B 619 (e.g., determine connections under one agency or multiple agencies)
• Identifying professional development opportunities for early childhood practitioners (e.g., child care, etc.)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Supporting Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays Workgroup: English, Spanish

In collaboration with an in support of the development of the new agency, this workgroup will develop specific recommendations to align and improve early childhood services, programs, and supports for mutilingual learners, their families, and the practitioners who support them. 

Supporting Multilingual Learners Workgroup Members

This workgroup will have an intentional focus on

• Identifying multilingual learners consistently across programs,
• Providing appropriate linguistic and cultural supports for children in early childhood programs (e.g., professional development), and
• Creating seamless transitions from early childhood to K-12 for multilingual learners and their families.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Supporting Multilingual Learner Workgroup: English, Spanish

This workgroup will help develop recommendations related to data and learning to inform the redesign of the states' EC programs and services.

Data, Analytics and Insights Workgroup Members

The Data and Learning Workgroup will begin by discussing the following topics:

• Informing the strategic 'building blocks' for the Data, Analytics and Insights functions in the new agency. This includes the new agency's Commitment Statement and Guiding Principles. 
• Building a shared knowledge base for best practices in data, analytics and insights. Building off of the initial three part 'Learning Series', the workgroup will elevate other topics and experts to build peer knowledge and identify shared interest informing the FY25 and FY26 data,
• Informing the Data, Analytics and Insights implementation plan. In order to have this new agency up and ready to administer funds by July 1, 2026, the technology and data systems need to be in place in advance, with the prerequisite recommendations required beginning in FY25. This includes prioritizing the launch of new data and learning offerings (e.g. annual EC report card, parent portal, etc.)

The Funding Design Workgroup will advise on the design and use of ECEC funding to promote equitable and inclusive access to quality services that meet the needs of children and families, with a particular focus on investment prioritization and system sustainability.

Funding Design Workgroup Members​

Funding Alignment Subcommittee Members

Funding Distribution Subcommittee Members

Home Visiting Funding Subcommittee Members

Child Care/Pre-K Funding Subcommittee Members

Specifically, the Funding Design Workgroup will:​

• Provide insight on tradeoffs and how to order funding priorities​
• Recommend opportunities to improve existing challenges and build on successes​
• Raise concerns about implementation and potential unintended consequences