We celebrate the Department for making these key advancements towards increasing the supply and quality of infant and toddler child care, however, more work remains to be done.

We recommend that the state invest in grants and contracts to stabilize and expand the supply of infant and toddler child care across the state, a strategy also supported by the latest federal rule. Strategic investment in contracts and grants has been found to support stable enrollment for infants and toddlers as well as the hiring and retention of qualified staff.  Only six other states use this strategy to stabilize the supply of subsidized care, however, states that utilize contracts report that the reimbursement rates are closer to the cost of providing care, and therefore allows providers to invest in quality improvements. Grants and contracts will not only stabilize the supply of infant and toddler care, but can also help providers access the resources they need to increase the quality of their child care programs.

To make Illinois the best state to raise a family we must ensure that all families have access to quality and affordable child care.  

Interested in learning more about the Infant and Toddler Child Care Roadmap? Watch Raising Illinois’ statewide gathering, Child Care: Correcting Perception by Acknowledging Impact.

Washington State’s Smallest Ferry: the M/V Sanpoil, aka the Keller Ferry
Photo courtesy of WSDOT

Happy New (Fiscal) Year!  The state’s fiscal year begins each July 1st. Hopefully you celebrated accordingly. 😊

Washington State Fun Fact

To honor the spirit of summer, here’s a fun fact about our state! Brownie points to any readers who take advantage of this knowledge and send us a pic sometime this summer; we’ll even feature it in a future edition of Notes (if desired)!

In terms of fleet number and ridership, Washington State Ferries is the largest public ferry operator in the country and provides transportation to many of the state’s beautiful islands.

Updated Caseload Forecast Released

On June 13, the Washington State Caseload Forecast Council released updated forecasts for various entitlement programs ranging from K-12 education to prisons to Medicaid. These forecasts inform budget appropriations by previewing expected demands for specific programs. (Summary document and Narrative document for specific details).

In the early learning space, three key programs are forecasted and showed the following projected changes from the most recent February forecast:

ECEAP: The Caseload Forecast Council reports that ECEAP caseload has increased since the low point of the 2020-21 school year during the pandemic.

As in earlier forecasts, most of the ECEAP enrollment growth has come from children who do not meet eligibility under the current criteria. As of March 2024, of the increased enrollment, 343 children met current ECEAP eligibility criteria (3% below March 2023 levels) while 1,065 children did not meet entitlement eligibility criteria (49.9% above March 2023 levels).

As directed in the Fair Start for Kids Act, ECEAP is scheduled to become an entitlement as of July 1, 2026, and income eligibility for the program is scheduled to increase from 110% of the Federal Poverty Level to 36% State Median Income (which is roughly 140% of the Federal Poverty Level). The forecast reflects the projected impacts of these increases.

Actual ECEAP caseloads as compared to the forecast could vary as the forecast assumes substantial caseload growth once the program becomes an entitlement and limited data exists about uptake rates. There could also be variance from the forecast as children included in the forecast for ECEAP participation could opt for participation in other early learning program options.

Transition to Kindergarten: The Caseload Forecast Council narrative notes that during the 2023-24 school year, 144 school districts offered Transitional Kindergarten/Transition to Kindergarten (TK/TTK) in 288 schools. Based on information provided by districts, that number is expected to grow to 161 districts offering TTK in 371 schools in the 2024-25 school year.

While initial growth in TTK was largely centered in rural and smaller school districts, the program is expanding to larger ones, including the Renton and Tacoma school districts in the upcoming school year.

Because this is an emerging program, actual enrollment in TTK could vary from the forecast as districts could opt in or opt out of operating the program.

Working Connections Child Care: In its June forecast, the Forecast Council aimed to account for recently enacted legislation that expanded eligibility for Working Connections Child Care and also for the increased income eligibility (up to 75% of the State Median Income) slated to go into effect on July 1, 2025 per the Fair Start for Kids Act.The risk of variance to this forecast is moderate to high, particularly if participation in the program varies widely from the forecast assumptions once the program’s income eligibility is expanded.

The Caseload Forecast Council is next scheduled to meet on November 13th. This forecast will inform Governor Inslee’s final budget that will be released in December.

Washington Research Council Caseload Forecast Summary Highlights Fair Start for Kids Act: The Washington Research Council, a nonprofit organization that provides economic research and policy analysis, found implementation of aspects of the Fair Start for Kids Act during the 2025-27 biennium as its biggest take-away from the June Forecast Council report and highlighted the implications in its caseload forecast analysis.

In a blog post, the Research Council describes the portions of the Fair Start for Kids Act of 2021 that are slated to go into effect during the upcoming 2025-27 biennium that are reflected in the caseload forecast (e.g. increased income eligibility for Working Connections Child Care and ECEAP entitlement). It is an accurate synopsis and provides an outside look at how other sectors are assessing early learning’s impact on the overall state budget.

Revenue Forecast

On June 26, the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council met to receive an updated Revenue Forecast from state Economist Dave Reich.

The bottom line is the state’s projected available revenues subject to the four-year budget outlook for the 2023-27 biennia are down by $666 million (or down by 0.5%) from the February forecast. This represents a decrease of $477 million in the current 2023-25 biennium and a decrease of $189 million for the upcoming 2025-27 biennium.

The Education Legacy Trust Account (which is funded in part by capital gains revenue and represents one source of funding for early learning) saw a reduction in projected revenues from the February forecast, largely due to lower projected capital gains receipts. Specifically, the forecast presumes a reduction of $188 million for the 2023-25 biennium and a reduction of $119 million for the 2025-27 biennium.

When asked about the lower capital gains receipts, Economist Reich responded with his opinion that this lower number likely more accurately reflects taxpayer behavior and, going forward, he expects capital gains receipts to be forecasted at $430 million a year. Note: this would mean that, per statute, the Common Schools Construction Account would not receive any capital gains funding as it would only receive funding if capital gain revenues exceed $500 million a year.

When questioned by reporters, Office of Financial Management Director David Schumacher and Democratic budget writers emphasized that the Legislature left healthy reserves and ending fund balances. They also noted this revenue forecast reflects a point in time and additional information will be available as the year goes on – including the outcome of the November initiatives impacting the continued availability of Capital Gains and Climate Commitment Act funding.

The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council will receive two more Revenue Forecasts in 2024 – one on September 27th and a second on November 20th, with the November forecast informing Governor Inslee’s final budget.

State Agency Budget Instructions and OFM Leadership Transition

On June 3rd, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) Director David Schumacher released instructions to guide state agencies in preparation of operating, capital and transportation budget requests (or “Decision Packages”) which are due to OFM by September 10th.

Notably, the instructions open by recognizing more people will need state services in the upcoming biennium, leading to increased costs for providing them. At the same time, available revenues will most likely only “… support the maintenance of current programs, but not growth.”

The instructions direct state agencies to focus on continuation of current programs and anticipated caseload growth. They go on to say that “agencies should also consider potentially pausing the phase-in of new programs, and the creation of new programs should be limited to only the highest priorities.” Of course, the outcome of the November ballot initiatives could impact the availability of revenue and agencies should consider the potential of reduced revenues resulting from the passage of initiatives in their budget requests.

As noted in the instruction letter, agency budget requests are due to OFM by September 10th and will be public shortly thereafter. The Governor and OFM will use this information (along with updated caseload and revenue forecast numbers) to build Governor Inslee’s final budgets that will be released in mid-late December. It will be interesting to see how state agencies interpret these instructions.

OFM Leadership Transition: It should also be noted that Schumacher, who has served as OFM Director for 12 years, recently announced he will be leaving his role this fall to serve as the Public Affairs Director for the Washington State Investment Board. As we get closer to the conclusion of Governor Inslee’s tenure, we can expect to see the departure of other senior members of his team.

Reminder: August Primary Election is Coming!

Don’t forget to vote! The upcoming Primary Election is on Tuesday, August 6 and ballots must be received by 8pm to be counted. Register to vote on the Secretary of State’s website.

Build and sustain the full spectrum of ECE workforce 

Increase the City’s Corporate Fund investment in the Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship (CELWS) by $15M to help address the early childhood workforce crisis and close the ever-growing funding gap between demand and availability of the scholarship.  

The City of Chicago is experiencing an early childhood workforce crisis that predates—but was also greatly exacerbated by—the pandemic. A direct way to create accessible pathways for new educators is to increase funding for CELWS through the allocation to the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) budget that comes from the City’s Corporate Fund. The scholarship supports approximately 600 students each year—around 200 new awardees plus those continuing – which historically represents just over half of the number of applications received.  

Acknowledge the critical work of early childhood professionals by dedicating City funding to increase support and compensation for the workforce through premium pay or short-term investments.   

As the City works to structurally and sustainably address the gap in pay parity between educators in school-based early childhood settings and community-based settings in the long-term, funds from the city budget should be used to increase compensation for these essential workers in the short-term. The City should consider premium pay or short-term investments in compensation for early childhood workers—including those working in center-based and family child care homes, Early Interventionists, home visitors and doulas—that other cities have adopted. 

Dedicate Corporate Fund investment to Family Connects Chicago (FCC) to sustain investment in its critical operations currently funded through expiring American Rescue Plan Act funds.   

FCC is a universal newborn support model that combats disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes by offering a nurse home visit to every birthing family in Chicago. Administered by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), this program serves as one of the earliest components of the prenatal-to-five system.  

Continue investment in the modernization of Chicago’s early childhood data infrastructure  

Invest City funds in the Chicago Early Childhood Integrated Data System (CECIDS) to ensure this public good is providing real-time, accurate data that is essential to advancing a clear understanding of the City’s ECE landscape and equity in accessibility.  

Chicago’s 180,000 young children, ages birth through 5 are served through a variety of early childhood programs and funding streams, each with its own data system, set of eligibility guidelines and compliance requirements. CECIDS was developed out of an imperative to mitigate this fragmentation that exacerbates inequities and limits program improvement. CECIDS bridges the gaps between disparate early childhood programs and funding streams, offering an integrated platform that provides all stakeholders insight on Chicago’s progress towards its goals for equitable access to high quality early childhood education and care and fair compensation for the early childhood workforce and continuing the City’s $529,000 investment in its sustainability is paramount.  

Contact your Alderman now to ask them to support an increase in investments for early care and education in the 2025 Chicago budget.

Your Turn: Why Increasing Early Intervention Funding is Crucial in Illinois

Jen Crick, President of the Illinois Developmental Therapy Association

As a parent of children who greatly benefited from various therapies throughout their childhoods, I fully understand the importance of a system like Early Intervention (EI) that supports families of young children with delays or disabilities as they navigate through the first three years of their child’s life.  

As a developmental therapist and president of the Illinois Developmental Therapy Association (IDTA), I have seen firsthand the positive outcomes for families and children who receive critical EI services, and I know that it takes dedicated professionals with the expertise and adequate resources to ensure that infants and toddlers with delays or disabilities have the best chance for healthy development.  

My colleagues and I have supported thousands of infants and toddlers through the EI program, and it is amazing how quickly we see progress and how life trajectories change in the months that we are with them. EI helps families to support their infants and toddlers and helps to prevent, mitigate, or eliminate delays making children more prepared for success in school and life.  

National data on child outcomes for children who receive EI show that almost 50% of infants and toddlers who receive EI function at age expectancy when they exit EI in social functioning, knowledge and skills and taking action to meet their needs.

EI is a program provided for under federal (and state) law – Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that gives infants and toddlers with or at substantial risk for disabilities and delays and their families the right to receive a range of developmental and therapeutic services.  

Despite this mandate, thousands of children in Illinois are on waiting lists for EI services, causing them to fall further behind during a critical period of development when a child’s brain is rapidly changing. Nearly 3,000 families are currently on waiting lists for the EI services they are legally entitled to receive.  

The percentage of families waiting more than 30 days for their services to begin has more than doubled over the last two years, and data from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) does not account for the thousands more families waiting for an initial evaluation. The delays in the EI system are at levels previously unseen in the recent history of the program.  

Service delays are tied directly to the program’s ongoing workforce crisis. Despite a long-overdue rate increase in FY24, decades of neglect have left providers without adequate compensation. In fact, the state would need to raise provider reimbursement rates by at least 25% just to account for inflation. Most EI providers, who work as fee-for-service independent contractors and not full-time state staff, must cover their own health insurance and travel costs and are not compensated for missed or canceled appointments.  

These challenges, among others, are leading providers – many of whom have advanced degrees – to leave EI and work instead in hospitals, schools, private practices, or other settings. As providers, we believe in EI and are wholly dedicated to developing relationships with families and supporting them in being their child’s best and foremost advocate.  

So, it’s heartbreaking to be led to choose to leave an industry that needs us so desperately. In fact, many providers can no longer make a living wage in EI and can only continue if they have a significant other with income and benefits. This has resulted in a shrinking workforce, directly affecting families’ access to these critical supports.  

The Illinois General Assembly has an opportunity this year to address the EI program’s stubbornly high service delays and an impending workforce crisis.  

We are urging the legislature to increase funding for the EI program by $40 million in the FY25 budget to provide a 10% rate increase for providers and service coordinators and to respond to increasing demand for the services and other systems improvements. This investment will continue to provide the necessary increases that must be sustained over the next few years until the system is stabilized.  

According to the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Smart Start: Early Intervention plan, an increase in the budget would stabilize our EI program by assisting us in bringing  EI providers back to the field, balancing caseloads, lowering service delays, and demonstrating the administration’s appreciation and support to this vital field.  

We appreciate all the work the Department is doing to do multi-state research, build cost models and launch innovative pilots to address disparities in access to services and improve the EI system, and yet, without any commitment of funding, none of this work can be implemented.  

We encourage all Illinoisans to contact your legislators and demand a $40 million increase to the state’s Early Intervention budget for FY2025.  

We cannot allow infants and toddlers with disabilities and delays and their families to be denied these services that they have a right to receive and that make such a huge difference in their development and long-term health and educational outcomes. The earliest years matter—our babies can’t wait.

Jen Crick is the president of the Illinois Developmental Therapy Association and a Developmental Therapist serving the Northwest Suburbs in Lake and McHenry counties. She has served on several EI committees and workgroups in Illinois including the PN-3 Coalition (now Raising Illinois), a workforce workgroup, and the Early Childhood Quality Alliance Panel.

Check out the above op-ed published in the State-Journal Register on May 17, 2024

Learn more about how you can take action for Early Intervention.

Understanding how these additional funds in the above categories are being allocated by the state to support families with young children is especially important as we head into the City of Chicago’s budget season, work to identify gaps and re-emphasize recommendations for the city’s investment of local funds to best serve the city’s early learning system. 

Read Start Early’s analysis of the state budget to learn about other important legislative measures impacting the state’s early care and education system. 

The burden placed on families to complete an application – collecting and submitting required documents, attending in person interviews and following up on application errors or requests for further documentation, can cause families to lose their slot in a child care program, or to simply stop the process because it is too cumbersome. Likewise, child care providers face uncertainty around receiving payments or are unable to fill slots while awaiting eligibility decisions.

Making the application process less taxing for families can also reduce the administrative burden for Lead Agency staff and improve program integrity. Because OCC monitors the Lead Agency based on how the State Plan describes the eligibility determination, streamlining these processes will make the implementation less complicated for eligibility case workers and others responsible for the administration of the program. The less difficult to implement, the less likelihood there is for error, thus less risk of being out of compliance when the state is audited by the OCC.

Conclusion

Ensuring access to high quality child care is an imperative for parents and children, providers, communities and the economy. One of the simplest ways to do this is to make the eligibility policies simpler and the application for child care subsidies easier for families. There is an opportunity now to address this through updated CCDF State Plans.

2024 Annual Luncheon Sponsors

A special thank you to our corporate and individual sponsors whose commitment to our mission is helping more children reach their full potential.

PRESENTING

$100,000

The Hasten Foundation
Helen Zell

CHAMPION

$50,000

Nancy & Steve Crown | The Crown Family
Diana & Bruce Rauner

PREMIER

$25,000

Tom Gimbel
Cari & Michael J. Sacks
Diana & Michael Sands

PARTNER

$10,000

Allstate Insurance Company
Noelle C. Brock, Brock Family Foundation
Kerri & Matthew Bruderman
Buffett Early Childhood Fund
Dave & Jane Casper
CME Group Foundation
Mary & Terry Dillon
Marilyn & Larry Fields
GCM Grosvenor
Cabray Haines & David Kiley
Harris Family Foundation
ITW
The Malkin Family
Charles & Brunetta Matthews
Northern Trust
Port Capital LLC
Robert R. McCormick Foundation
Jeanne Rogers & Perry Sainati
Catherine Siegel
Linda & Michael Simon
Steans Family Foundation
Sunshine Charitable Foundation
Laura Thonn & Scott Sallee
Wilson/Garling Foundation

COMMUNITY

$5,000

Ellen Alberding & Kelly Welsh
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Baird
Susan & Stephen Baird
Jimmy & Eleni Bousis
Sarah Bradley & Paul Metzger
John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Foundation
the Chicago Bulls
Erikson Institute
Mr. & Mrs. Rodney L. Goldstein
Rachel & Devin Gross
Maxwell Gunnill
J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Learning Resources
Ron Levin/Goldman Sachs
Elaine & Donald Levinson
Sharon Oberlander
Barbara & Dan O’Keefe
Plante Moran
Isabel & Charles Polsky
Protiviti
Rothkopf Family Charitable Foundation
Halee Sage & David Friedman
Shah Family Trust
Cheryl & Craig Simon
Sterling Bay
Ken & Kathy Tallering
Anne & John Tuohy
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago

At Start Early, we believe that fostering an inclusive culture where all voices and experiences are valued is crucial for the healthy development of children. Celebrating Juneteenth is a powerful way to instill these values in the next generation, helping children take pride in their identity and appreciate the unique contributions they bring to the world.

By celebrating Juneteenth with your child, you are not only honoring a critical moment in history but also paving the way for a future rooted in understanding, acceptance, and equality.

Resources to Help Celebrate and Honor Juneteenth

Here are age-appropriate book recommendations and a celebratory Juneteenth song to share with your little one:

Read:

• My First Juneteenth High Contrast Baby Book by Gisbert Weber (recommended for infants)
• The Story of Juneteenth by Dorena Williamson (recommended for toddlers)
• Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper (recommended for children in pre-K or kindergarten). You can also listen to this story read aloud.
• Tune into this Juneteenth read-aloud of I’m Gonna Push Through by Jasmyn Wright.

Listen:

• Fyütch and the Alphabet Rockers created Juneteenth Song for Kids, a song about what Juneteenth is and why we celebrate Black freedom and liberation.

Caring parents want to protect their children from harm, which can make it difficult to know how to teach children about the history and create awareness about events like Pride. With many neighborhoods and communities showing their support for Pride in June, it’s only natural for children to get curious and start asking questions.

Child development experts agree parents should keep explanations simple and honest. It is also important to be positive and affirming. When adults listen to children without judgment, and meet children where they are at, it creates a foundation for open communication. When parents promote values of acceptance, children will grow proud of their identity and appreciate diversity.

Resources to Help Celebrate Pride Month with Your Children

Pride month is an important opportunity to teach children about what it means to be a member of LGBTQIA2S+ communities, share the history behind the month-long celebration, and to have some fun together as a family. Here are activities and resources that can be helpful when teaching your little one about Pride:

Watch:

• Here is a fantastic video of children sharing their wisdom on Pride celebrations: Kids Celebrate Pride NYC | Recess Therapy.
• Parents can visit the Trevor Project’s YouTube channel to watch Stories of Pride.

Read:

• The Welcoming Schools Human Rights Campaign Foundation developed a list of the Best Diverse Children’s Books with Transgender, Non-Binary and Gender Expansive Characters.
• RAISING LUMINARIES Books For Littles has cultivated a list of Queer Rainbow Children’s Books by Indigenous, Black and Brown authors.
• Social Justice Books, a Teaching For Change project, shares an LGBTQ+ booklist for children, young adults, and educators, which includes books for Early Childhood: Learning About Gender Diversity.
• The American Library Association’s Rainbow Book List is published annually and represents an array of diverse stories and identities representing the LGBTQIA2S+ youth experience.

Listen:

• Alphabet Rockers make intergenerational music that creates brave spaces to shape a more equitable world through hip-hop. Here is a video of them celebrating Pride in San Francisco. Their songs “We Royal”, “They/Them” and “Just Be” highlight LGBTQIA2S+ people.
• Additional LGBTQIA2S+ themed music for children is shared on the NPR website: A New Children’s Album Celebrates Kids Who Are Transgender And Nonbinary.

Additional Resources:

• There are also many activities that can be found online about celebrating Pride with Children. Fatherly offers: 10 Ways To Celebrate Pride Month With Your Kids and keep an eye out for local events where you live.