Resolution supporting a plan to establish high-quality universal birth to five early care and
education f y.
Updated 9/8/14
Whereas, the State of lllinois's current "Preschool for All" program was and is an important and necessary step towards achieving universal affordable preschool for all, but has been forced to limit access and cap the number of slots available; and
Whereas, The State of lllinois's "Preschool for All" program is limited to partial day programs; and
Whereas, The State of Illinois and the City of Chicago lack adequate early care and education programs and funding to fully meet the needs of children and families, and the existing early care and education services make it difficult for families to navigate the multiple services, schedules, and early care and education settings; and
Whereas, More than 150,000 children birth through age four in Chicago do not have access to full-day quality, publicly-funded early care and education; and
Whereas, Only 5% of eligible Chicago infants and toddlers have access to federal Early Head Start programming in the city; and
Whereas, The average annual cost for child care for an infant in Cook County, at $12,359 per year, is higher than in-state tuition and fees at a public 4-year university; and
Whereas, The Mayor of the City of Chicago claims to have established access to universal preschool for low income students, but the City has, in fact, seen a net decline in enrollment and access during the Emanuel Administration's tenure, and
Whereas, Research shows that gaps in children's development appear earlier than preschool, and that supporting high-quality responses including early learning and care can diminish those gaps and build a strong foundation for the youngest children; and
Whereas, According to a report by America's Edge, a membership organization of business leaders, the average working parent in America misses five to nine days of work because of child care problems; and
Whereas, Also according to t...
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