A child’s brain develops more from birth to age five than at any other time in their life. And by the time they are five, children have developed the language and thinking as well as social, emotional, and self-regulatory behaviors that lay the foundation for their success in school and in life. The benefits of high-quality early childhood education are even more significant for children who come from low-income backgrounds.
That’s why we need highly qualified educators in Early Childhood – teachers and caregivers equipped with best practices and ready to make a difference in the lives of their young students, their families, and our communities.
Unfortunately, these professionals are in short supply.
Fortunately, however, the State of Illinois is committing millions of federal dollars toward this critical need. This money will fund scholarships enabling current or former members of the incumbent workforce in early childhood education and care, who have associate degrees from Illinois community colleges, to complete four-year degrees at no out-of-pocket cost.
The Northern Illinois University College of Education and College of Health and Human Sciences have committed to enrolling at least 160 students in our programs. Graduates from these programs will be prepared to teach pre-school through grade two in local schools or to work with infants and young children in community-based settings.
It’s a life-changing opportunity for members of the incumbent workforce who have wanted to complete a bachelor’s degree but paying for it has been a barrier. Through Illinois’ investment, we will positively impact generations to come by preparing more highly qualified early childhood educators for our region
I’m Laurie Elish-Piper, and that’s my perspective.
