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Starting July 1, 2026, the Illinois Department of Early Childhood officially became the lead agency for Child Care Licensing, the Head Start State Collaboration Office Grant, Home Visiting, Early Intervention, the Child Care Assistance Program, Early Childhood Block Grant, and a range of other early childhood support to families, providers and educators.

Should you have any questions related to this transition please reference our Transition FAQ’s. Should you need further support visit our Contact page where you can submit your questions. We are excited to continue this journey with you!

Frequently Asked Questions

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) has been created to make early childhood services simpler, fairer, and better for families and providers.

As we undergo this transition, we know there are questions about what it means, timelines, and implications to early childhood programs and services--below, you will find answers to common questions.