IL SR0466

Illinois Senate recognizes the state's early childhood education workforce is experiencing a teacher recruitment and retention crisis, with 42% turnover rates for lead teachers in licensed child care centers compared to 21% in school-based programs

Early childhood education generates $2.6 billion in annual revenues in Illinois and serves nearly one million children ages birth to five, with 40% of Illinois children living in low-income families

The 2017 Illinois Early Childhood Workforce Hiring Survey found inadequate salary and benefits were the most cited barriers to hiring, with 46% of child care workers earning salaries qualifying them for public health benefits at a cost of $71.4 million to the state

Urges the General Assembly to modernize early childhood education funding and teacher qualification standards to address workforce shortages

Urges the Governor to increase early childhood education provider representation on the Illinois Learning Council, DCFS Daycare Advisory Council, DHS Childcare Advisory Council, and Professional Development Advisory Council