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Governor George Ryan Dear Governor Ryan, The budget proposal, to cut $184 million from the Illinois State Board of Education eliminating the Early Childhood Education Block Grant, thus closing Prekindergarten-At-Risk, Birth to Three Model Parental Training and Prevention Initiative, will hurt our district families and children. The increased foundation funding would not be enough to keep the Prekindergarten-At-Risk classrooms open for our youngest learners. Our Superintendent said he would use any increase in foundation money (very small in our district) to pay bills and fix the roof. Please help preserve Illinois State Board of Education's Early Childhood Block Grant. Our Early Childhood Block Grant Prevention Initiative Program recently supported a 23 year old, unmarried mother of four children through the crisis pregnancy with her 5th child. She was homeless, without a job or transportation. The Prevention Initiative Program supported the mom in placing the child for adoption, encouraged her to enroll at the local community college and helped her find housing and a car. Without our valuable program, this child would be one more statistic in the special education classroom. Most of the children we see receiving Early Intervention moneys have delays caused by impoverished environments. An Early Intervention Developmental Therapist costs $60 an hour If valuable programs like ours close down, children will pour into the Early Intervention System. They are by law, entitled to be served there and cannot be turned away. Please continue to help our shools and families by preserving programs for young children. You have a tough job! All of our prayers are with you. Please save the Early Childhood Block Grant! Sincerely, Janice Lowder Cain, President and Executive Director
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