Overview
Illinois is home to 4 percent of the nation’s children 0–5. It has a long history of commitment to early childhood, with more than $2.2 billion in federal and state dollars invested in programs serving young children. In addition to providing preschool programs for decades, Illinois has led the nation in investments in infants and toddlers, anchored by a long-standing commitment to funding home visiting and doula services and the birth-to-3 set-aside component of its State Board of Education early childhood education program. By law, a portion of each preschool dollar is invested into home visiting and center-based infant-toddler care. New leadership from governor J.B. Pritzker — who has a long history of philanthropic support for early childhood, with a focus on infants and toddlers — has increased momentum for additional investments.
The following annual funding breakout, map, and program and service descriptions are not exhaustive of all early childhood expenditures but are intended to be a primer on the state’s complex early childhood system.
Annual Early Childhood Funding Breakout
*Prevention Initiative includes center-based care and home visiting.
**Budget data for children 0-5 is not available.

Map of Illinois’ Early Childhood Funding

Click each service/program name to view the funding stream
Types of Program & Service Descriptions
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Head Start
Head Start (HS), Early Head Start (EHS), Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start
- What is the program/service?
Head Start is a program of the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children from birth to age 5 and their families. Many Head Start programs also provide Early Head Start (EHS), which is a comprehensive child development program for low-income pregnant women, infants, and toddlers (from birth through 2), including young children with disabilities. Illinois also has Migrant and Seasonal Head Start as well as Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships. - Who is the provider?
K–12 schools, operators of community-based early childhood centers, some family childcare homes, and child and family support entities. - How much funding is there and what is it for?
$347.6 (FY17)Head Start funds are awarded directly to eligible program operators at the local level. Operators can use contract funds for a wide range of program expenses including operations, professional development, quality improvement, and investments in technology. Additional grants for professional development are also included in grants and may be used for technology as well. Regional technical assistance centers receive separate funding and may choose to leverage technology.
- Who benefits?
44,000 children were served in Head Start and Early Head Start (FY18).