“The only way to survive is by taking care of one another.”
– Grace Lee Boggs
CS3 Updates
Thank you for attending the 2026 Partner Plan Act Conference!
The 2026 Partner Plan Act Conference Equity from the Start: Centering Community Well-Being in Early Childhood Systems, was a success! We hope you found the experience engaging, meaningful, and inspiring as we work together toward equitable systems change in early childhood.
Thank you to the generous funding from the Illinois State Board of Education, this conference and all support offered to early childhood community collaborations are provided free of charge.
If you missed a session or would like to revisit any part of the conference, recordings will be available soon—stay tuned!
Partner Plan Act Collaboration Institute Request for Supports is open!
The Partner Plan Act Collaboration Institute is a year-long project for local early childhood collaborations in Illinois where they receive an intensive supportive experience to enable them to thrive. Each month, collaborations can access coaching designed to meet their specific needs. Participation is completely free and funded by the Illinois State Board of Education. Whether you’re brand new or long-established, we encourage all local early childhood collaborations seeking to increase their reach and impact to participate.
If you’re not sure whether participating in the Institute is right for your collaboration, we’d love to speak with you! Please contact Ruby Flores, Community Systems Statewide Supports (CS3) Training and Coaching Manager, at floresr@actforchildren.org to arrange a call. You can also explore additional supports at partnerplanact.org.
Applications for Cohort 9 of the Partner Plan Act Collaboration Institute (PPACI) are due June 12.
Other Events & Updates
Early Childhood Legislation
In April, the Illinois General Assembly concluded the Third Reading deadline, the point at which bills must pass out of their original chamber (House or Senate) to move to the other chamber for consideration.
The following early childhood bills will be moving forward for further consideration:
- HB4606: Creates a statewide Universal Newborn Support Systems aimed at improving and helping families navigate the maternal health care and early childhood systems.
- HB2190: Ensures that at least two non-administrative staff members in an early childhood program are certified in first aid.
- HB4795: Would allow an individual with a National Board certification-early childhood generalist endorsement to teach pre-kindergarten programs.
- HB4577: Amends the Illinois School Code to include a clear definition of play-based learning within existing kindergarten provisions, ensuring consistent interpretation and implementation of existing statutory directives.
- HB4791: Amends the Smart Start Illinois Act. Expands eligibility under the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program to Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
- HB4587: Allows child care centers to hire individuals who are in the process of completing their educational requirements as an Interim Conditional Child Care Director for a period of up to 12 months.
In preparation for its full operational launch date of July 1, 2026, the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) is running a series of bills:
- HB5204: Moves the Early Learning Council to IDEC and updates its structure and administration.
- HB5099: Transfers background check operation and responsibility to IDEC.
- SB3907: Aims at redesigning the licensing process while also streamlining the process for providers, address the outdated “day care” terminology to “child care” to better align with the profession and allows for background checks to follow the individual when moving between early childhood settings.
State Budget
Illinois advocates are asking for the following increases in Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) to early childhood funding in Illinois:
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP): $80 million increase, to maintain current caseloads, home-based reimbursement rate increases through SEIU Healthcare CBA, and a 3% reimbursement rate increase for center-based programs.
- Early Intervention (EI): $40 million increase based on the cost model.
- Home Visiting (HV): $5 million increase.
- Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG): $75 million increase.
- Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE): $5 million increase, taking the total investment to $10 million.
- Smart Start Workforce Grants (SSWG): $50 million increase, to support a wage increase for teachers.
Please contact your legislators today and urge them to support FY27 early childhood budget recommendations that invest in children, families, and the early childhood workforce.
Proposed Federal Budget
In April, the president released budget recommendations for federal FY27. The proposed budget initiates the budget cycle for the upcoming fiscal year, outlining the administration’s priorities and suggested funding allocations. Early childhood programs like Head Start and CCDBG are level-funded, while others—PDG B-5 and CCAMPIS—are proposed for elimination.
Congress has until September 30, 2026 to finalize a federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year to support critical programs that provide parents and children with access to quality and affordable early learning and care.
Make Your Voice Heard at Early Childhood Advocacy Day 2026!
May 13, 2026
10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Springfield, Illinois
Join advocates from across the state at Early Childhood Advocacy Day (ECAD) to stand up for young children and their families!
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.
Check your spam folder if you have not received a confirmation email.