Early Childhood

Illinois to give child care workers $1,000 and cover costs for unemployed parents

How a Chicago charter school is trying to make sure the kindergarteners are OK

Mayor Lori Lightfoot: Chicago Head Start funding cutoff is ‘irresponsible’

‘I have to start all over again’: Chicago parents worry about what’s next if preschools close

More changes coming to Chicago early learning after feds break up Head Start monopoly

Illinois is expelling fewer preschoolers. But programs still exclude young children.

Q&A: This new study could help build the case for Chicago’s universal pre-K expansion

Two jobs, no benefits: Can Illinois rescue its early childhood workforce?

Illinois budget heads to Pritzker’s desk with a boost for K-12, flat funding for early ed

Chicago is stepping up its preschool advertising. Will families return?

Illinois will spend another $140 million to stabilize its daycares

Illinois advocates rally around early ed bill that would create more bachelor’s degree programs

How this Chicago pre-K teacher created a typical day for her students in an atypical year

Commission calls for Illinois to create state agency to oversee early learning

Indices de inmunización infantil en Chicago están disminuyendo. Los funcionarios de salud están preocupados

Chicago’s childhood vaccination rates are slipping. Health officials are worried.

After pandemic slowed progress, Mayor Lightfoot creates group to improve Chicago’s early education system

When a child’s first teacher is onscreen: In Chicago, questions about the payoff of virtual preschool

After string of safety problems at Chicago early childhood centers, feds take notice

As child care centers reopen, Chicago parents ask: How safe is it?

Juice boxes, strollers, and the South Side Cowboy: Why Chicago preschool parents protested at City Hall

Illinois will invest $270 million into child care rescue, as operators report tough times ahead

Advocates and lawsuit warn of ‘devastating’ impact on child care if Chicago doesn’t do more

Filed under:

• Early Childhood

Chicago says child care centers may reopen June 3; many likely to delay until later

Illinois, Chicago move to reopen child care centers. Parents should expect changes.

Pre-K for all: COVID-19 battle slows pace of Chicago preschool expansion 

Filed under:

• Early Childhood

Chicago to delay preschool applications, kindergarten admissions

Filed under:

• Coronavirus

Adrift in the coronavirus pandemic: Families with children under age 5

Filed under:

• Coronavirus

Illinois will charge ‘essential’ workers $1 for child care during coronavirus emergency

Filed under:

• Early Childhood

Chicago plans to open preschool applications April 21

Filed under:

• Early Childhood

To control coronavirus, Illinois closes restaurants, but not day cares. Providers are in a tough spot.

Filed under:

• Early Childhood

Lawmakers press Chicago City Council to hold hearings into early learning grant ‘disaster’