Early Childhood Education

WNIJ News

Illinois just made big early childhood investments. But services like daycare and preschool are nearly impossible for many families to access.

Peter Medlin

Illinois is making big investments in early child care. Why do parents say services are almost impossible to access?

There's a major shortage of early childhood educators. A new initiative offers full scholarships to recruit hundreds of teachers.

Peter Medlin

NIU is a part of the state’s new Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity and offers full-tuition scholarships.

Education

Most Are Closed, But Some Illinois Child Care Centers Remain Open For Families Of Essential Workers

While most daycare facilities are closed, some in Illinois remain open for families of essential workers.KinderCare is one of the biggest daycare…

Education

Why An Illinois Project Is Building Bookcases As A Foundation Of Child Literacy

Every year, the DeKalb/Sycamore Bookcase Project makes 50 bookcases for 50 children, each case complete with a metal plate engraved with the child’s name.…

Education

Using Nature To Nurture Social-Emotional Skills

Three kids crunch the leaves under their feet while helping a fourth kid get a foothold to climb a short tree on the edge of a fenced-in yard.On the other…

Illinois

26% of Illinois children come into kindergarten developmentally ready, says new Illinois report

A new report from the Illinois State Board of Education highlights how many children are developmentally ready for Kindergarten upon entering.Results of…

Illinois

$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…