Early Childhood Education

Representatives of the state's Department of Early Childhood's transition committee spoke with parents and educators about the ways the department can be the most effective when it launches in 2026.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s plan to consolidate the state’s early childhood programs into one new cabinet-level agency ran into tough questions this week during a House budget committee hearing.

DaWayne Morris recently left his teaching job at Heartland Head Start in Bloomington. He talked to WGLT about why he left, and why he still believes so strongly in the agency's mission.

A Bloomington-based early childhood program for low-income families begins the new school year facing another round of leadership upheaval and under increased federal scrutiny for failing to properly supervise a 5-year-old child.

A new report says improving worker pay and benefits would be one of the best ways to improve central Illinois’ early childhood education system.

District 87 officials hope to begin negotiations soon on where it can expand early childhood education.

WGLT talks to a Birth to Five Illinois expert to get some advice on how to find child care center and in-home provider options, what you should expect to pay, and how to evaluate the quality of a provider.

District 87 schools in Bloomington want to expand early childhood education, but there are some hoops to jump through to get a new facility.

Susan Naber, a paraprofessional at Brigham Early Learning Center, was nominated by Gov. JB Pritzker for a national education award for her work setting young children with disabilities on a path to school success.

String Project, one of Illinois State University’s longest running community programs, is celebrating 20 years of cultivating a love of music in children. The spring concert is at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Center for Performing Arts at ISU.