Pritzker announces Illinois will get $40 million in fed funds for early childhood

JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, announced that he had secured $40 million in federal funding to accomplish his mission of making Illinois the best state in the nation for families raising young children. His office released a statement related to the federal funds that would be received by Illinois.

According to the statement, Illinois will get $13.4 million per year for three years from the Preschool Development Birth. The US Department of Health and Human Services will provide the funds in the form of Five Renewal Grant. Pritzker said, “From our aggressive efforts to secure federal funding to our historic investments in early childhood programs and facilities, Illinois will become the best state in the nation for families raising young children.”

He added that they had many more things to be accomplished for the families and children of Illinois. Pritzker said that his administration would keep investing in the care and education of their kids. Pritzker has a clear focus on childhood development. He announced a renewed emphasis on the Child Care Assistance Program a week ago.

The Child Care Assistance Program was undermined by the former governor Bruce Rauner. Pritzker also committed to increase reimbursement rates by 5 percent in the whole state. The increase in reimbursement rates will help child-care providers. He also dedicated an additional $3 million for the workforce that provides training in preschool child care.

The studies have revealed that social inequality could be addressed in the most effective way via Preschool training. The federal funding will be spent on the development of the best preschool training programs for the children of Illinois. The funding will also provide aid in the expansion of the current preschool services. The press release said, “The award comes with a 30 percent cost-sharing commitment with non-federal funds.”