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$20 Million Federal Grant Will Boost Early Education

Illinois received $20 million from the federal government for expanding access to early childhood education.

Illinois currently enrolls just over a quarter of its 4-year-olds in state-funded preschool for low-income families.

Reyna Hernandez, of the Illinois State Board of Education, says it's hoping to expand that number with Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposed increase of $25 million to early childhood education.

"What we're looking to do is really target those children and those families who might be at risk of having … of being part of the achievement gap,” Hernandez said, “so that the gap doesn't grow … the gap doesn't, ideally, doesn't persist."

Supporters say it is important to enroll students in early childhood education for them to succeed in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The federal grant to boost state preschool programs comes as school districts are looking to deal with anticipated budget cuts under Rauner.