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Featured Articles

1. Article number 1 - Welcome to the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development's Website!
2. Article number 2 - Governor Announces $45M in Early Childhood Construction Grants
3. Article number 3 - Illinois Receives $35M in Early Learning Challenge Funds!
4. Article number 4 - New Guidance and Standards on Early Learning Now Available!
5. Article number 5 - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Announces the President's Early Learning Initative

• Welcome to the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development's Website!

  The Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD) was established to facilitate cross system collaboration to advance a more unified early childhood system which ensures high quality care and education for children birth to age 5. Learn more about OECD here!

  Photo courtesy of IL Action for Children

• Governor Announces $45M in Early Childhood Construction Grants

  As part of Governor Quinn's comprehensive plan to improve P-20 education in Illinois, he announced $45M in Illinois Jobs Now! capital funding at the Through a Child's Eyes child development center in Cicero. Through a Child's Eyes was a grant recipient along with over a dozen other early learning providers in high need communities throughout the state who will use their awards to improve facilities or expand services through new centers or additions. Learn more about the Early Childhood Construction Grant announcement here.

• Illinois Receives $35M in Early Learning Challenge Funds!

  United States Department of Education and the Department of Health & Human Services jointly announced on April 9, 2012 that an additional $133M will be available to the next five highest scoring states including Illinois. Each eligible state may apply for up to half of their original award which means that Illinois could stand to receive up to $35M in funds to support early learning. Read our proposal here!

• New Guidance and Standards on Early Learning Now Available!

  The Illinois State Board of Education recently released updated guidance regarding Early Learning and updated Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards (draft). Learn more about the guidance here!

  Learn more about the updated draft standards here!

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Announces the President's Early Learning Initative

  Learn more about President Obama's early learning initiative, a birth to five continuum of high quality early care services and education. You'll also find links to data, technical assistance and policy resources.