Illinois Launches New Agency for Early Childhood Services
Nineteen public acts begin as the new $55.9 billion budget, early childhood agency and higher driving-test age all take effect.
- The Illinois Department of Early Childhood officially launched Wednesday, consolidating fragmented services for infants, toddlers, and their families under one agency for the first time.
- Gov. JB Pritzker championed the agency to streamline programs, ending divisions between the Department of Human Services, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Department of Children and Family Services.
- Beyond the new agency, laws taking effect Wednesday raise the mandatory behind-the-wheel driving test age from 79 to 87 and expand restrictions on traveling wild animal shows.
- Under the state's new $55.9 billion budget, the IDEC receives $4.4 billion and is led by Secretary Teresa Ramos, who manages over 500 staffers.
- In coming months, IDEC will transition from paper-based records to electronic systems, aiming to better track service access and inform future investment decisions across Illinois.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Illinois launches new Department of Early Childhood
Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation that took effect July 1 creating a new Illinois Department of Early Childhood. Illinois previously had three agencies handling early childhood services, which are now combined into one department.
Illinois Department Of Early Childhood Officially Launches As New State Agency
SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) officially begins operations as Illinois’ first agency focused entirely on early childhood programs and services. The agency joins together programs previously administered by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Devel…
Chicago Sun Times
Can Illinois’ newest state agency improve early childhood services? Officials hope so.
The new Illinois Department of Early Childhood is responsible for home visiting, early intervention and early education programs that were previously handled by three separate agencies. State officials hope putting these programs under one roof will make it easier for families to navigate their options.
Illinois launches Department of Early Childhood, announces workforce funding - KBSI FOX23 News Cape Girardeau News
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (KBSI) — Illinois officially launched the Illinois Department of Early Childhood on Tuesday, creating the state’s first agency dedicated solely to early childhood programs and services. The new department consolidates programs previously administered by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois State Board of Education and the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood De…
New Department of Early Childhood launches full operations – Capitol News IL
As the new agency was getting off the ground, some lawmakers expressed hope that consolidating multiple programs under one roof would result in administrative savings and that the total budget of the new agency would be less than what the state had been spending before. But Illinois Department of Early Childhood Secretary Teresa Ramos said, “The goal of the new agency is really to deliver effective services for the families with young children w…
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