Reports

This report was developed in partnership with 40 partner organization and Afton Partners. It summarizes the wants, pain points, opportunities, questions, and recommendations for early childhood services of nearly 1,700 individuals in 72 regional in-person and virtual listening sessions across the state in summer and fall of 2024. Every county was represented through participation in regional listening sessions. The feedback gathered through regional listening sessions demonstrated that communities across the state have varied needs, challenges, and successes that are influenced by regional and local collaborations and resource structures. While there is no one size fit all model or “average” experience, across all regions, families who successfully accessed quality services described communication and coordination as well as consistent and culturally responsive relationships as essential to their positive experience.

​In December 2019, the Governor established the Illinois Commission on Equitable Early Childhood Education and Care Funding ("Early Childhood Funding Commission"). The Commission’s charge was to study and make recommendations to the Governor on funding goals and funding mechanisms that provide equitable access to high-quality early childhood education and care services for all children birth to age five. The Commission submitted their recommendations to the Governor in March 2021. Having completed their charge, the Commission has since disbanded. Efforts to implement the recommendations are being considered and led by the Governor and Illinois State Agencies. 

This report by ChiByDesign, a civic and social impact design firm, is the result of three co-design workshops that placed lived experts— families and early childhood providers-- at the forefront of shaping the Illinois Department of Early Childhood. The workshops, that used an anti-racist and trauma- informed co-design approach, led to the creation of key drivers and design principles that will be used to inform and guide IDEC’s transition efforts. Additionally, co-designers developed three innovative concepts to address challenges faced by families and early education providers, offering a glimpse into the stakeholder-driven solutions that IDEC aims to implement.

As an agency with a temporary partial exemption from the Procurement Code, the Illinois Department of Early Childhood is responsible for providing public access to procurement reports and related documentation. These reports include details on purchasing activity, vendor engagement, contracts, and spending from contracts procured with the partial exemption. These reports have also been filed with the Illinois General Assembly. Please revise if these reports will include different or additional information.