Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge: 2014 Annual Performance Report. Illinois
Author: Department of Education (ED)
Date: 2015-06-00
Type: Reports - Descriptive
Subjects: Educational Legislation,Federal Aid,Federal Legislation,Federal Programs,Early Childhood Education,State Programs,Educational Quality,Accountability,Program Evaluation,Program Effectiveness,Child Development,Academic Standards,Health Promotion,Labor Force Development,Outcome Measures,Progress Monitoring,Preschool Teachers,Teacher Competencies,Student Characteristics,Preschool Children,Budgets,Expenditures,Tables (Data)

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2014 describes Illinois' accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Illinois will implement to address those challenges. Illinois' Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge grant efforts reflect the State's three strategic reform priorities. In each of these areas, the State has accomplished a great deal in its second year of implementation. Priority 1 is: Deepening the integration of State supports to create a unified framework for all early learning and development programs. In 2014, Illinois continued the strong momentum established in 2013 for its system-building efforts. Among the highlighted accomplishments are: (1) Completed a year-long visioning and strategic planning process to outline the State's approach to developing and supporting community-level early childhood systems; (2) Completed a strategic planning process for strengthening early childhood mental health services, including prevention, intervention, and treatment services (funded by a private foundation); and (3) Completed a study of the effectiveness and clarity of the current governance structure for the early learning system in Illinois and identified potential improvements and opportunities for greater clarity in roles and responsibilities (funded by a private foundation). Priority 2 is: Connecting the most-at-risk children with the supports and services they need. Although Illinois has a relatively high level of services for children with high needs, too many of the most vulnerable young children in the state are not being served. Through its State Plan, Illinois is working to identify and remove barriers to participation for these children and their families. Accomplishments include: (1) Developed a new full-school-day, comprehensive program model for those four year olds with the highest needs that will be implemented with funding the State received for the Preschool Development Grant-Expansion Grant; and (2) Continued implementation of innovative approaches in seven &quot;Early Childhood Innovation Zones&quot; across the State, where local collaborations are working to the number of highest-need children who are enrolled in high quality early learning services. Priority 3 is: Increasing program quality: From adequate to good and from good to great. Recent research shows what is required in terms of program intensity, rigorous curriculum, and high-quality teacherchild interaction to significantly impact the developmental trajectory of children with high needs. Illinois is working to translate that research into strengthened practices in classrooms across the state. Among the highlighted accomplishments are: (1) Quality Specialists in Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies across the state provided support and technical assistance to 1,262 centers and 508 child care homes as they work toward achieving a higher Circle of Quality in ExceleRate Illinois (funded jointly by Child Care Development Block Grant [CCDBG] and RTT-ELC funds); (2) Provided over 659 in-person training sessions on ExceleRate related topics, and implemented ten new online training modules; and (3) Designed and implemented a set of bonuses and tiered reimbursement for child care providers achieving Bronze, Silver and Gold Circles of Quality in ExceleRate to incentivize participation (bonuses funded by RTT-ELC funds, tiered reimbursement funded by CCDBG funds). [For &quot;At a Glance: The Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge Year 2014 Progress Report,&quot; see ED583096.]