“We are the pioneers of change, and together we can make a difference.”
– Marsha P. Johnson
CS3 Updates
2026 Partner Plan Act Conference Keynote Recordings Now Available
We’re excited to share that the keynote session recordings from the 2026 Partner Plan Act Conference are now available to view on the Partner Plan Act YouTube Channel!
Whether you’re revisiting key insights or catching up on sessions you may have missed, we invite you to explore the conference’s featured keynote recordings. Highlights include the Community Well-Being Panel on collective healing, a fireside chat with Maya Schenwar, and a reading by author René Colato Laínez from Let’s Play in the Park. You can also view Dr. Dipesh Navsaria’s presentation on literacy and child development, as well as a live poetry reading by Atena O. Danner.
All keynote session recordings are available in both English and Spanish within the 2026 Partner Plan Act Conference Playlist.
Other Events & Updates
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
On June 1, the Illinois General Assembly passed the state’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget, which will go into effect July 1, 2026. Here’s how early childhood program funding is impacted.
Increased investment:
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP): An additional $55 million, a 7% increase, to support childcare services for at least 155,000 Illinois children and provide reimbursement rate increases for home-based childcare providers.
- Early Intervention: An additional $15 million, a 9% increase, to help ensure more efficient and timely support for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities.
- Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC): $85.7 million for operational costs.
Level Funding (No increases or cuts):
- Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG)
- Home Visiting
- Smart Start Workforce Grants (SSWG)
- Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship
Early Childhood Legislation
The Illinois spring legislative session officially adjourned on June 1. Lawmakers will return to Springfield later in the year for the annual Fall Veto Session to review the governor’s vetoes, typically held for a few days in mid-to-late October or November.
Read the IAFC statement on the FY27 budget and learn about the bills that passed here.
weconnect
WeConnect is designed to bring together members who are dedicated to advancing community systems development in the early childhood education and care world.
WeConnect gives you access to:
- Online Communities: Connect with your collaboration, get early childhood and community systems development news, and meet other collaborations members online.
- Discussions: Ask questions and share your knowledge and ideas.
- Resource Libraries: Share and find the resources you need.
- Member Directory: Get in touch with other collaboration members.
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