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March 8, 2002 We write to you now to express our grave concern about the impact of your Fiscal Year 2003 budget proposal on the prospects for Illinois Preschool and on the care and education of young children today. We are alarmed by your proposal to severely reduce the state's child care budget by nearly $60 million and to eliminate altogether the $184 million Early Childhood Education Block Grant. These programs are critical for thousands of at-risk children and their families. In announcing Illinois Preschool, you have referred to the tremendous government savings - $7 saved on public safety, remedial education, and health care costs - for every $1 spent on early education. Yet your new budget proposes to end this investment. The Task Force on Universal Access to Preschool submitted a plan built upon the existing bases of child care and the Early Childhood Block Grant. Your proposed cut to child care and the elimination of the Early Childhood Block Grant seriously erodes the foundation for establishing universal preschool programs in Illinois. Your proposal would allow local school districts to use the $184 million in early childhood funds for K-12 education or even for building maintenance and repairs. What's more, the proposal would eliminate all state quality standards, an integral part of the Illinois preschool plan. Your commitment to young children - so clear in the Preschool plan - must also be embodied in the 2003 budget priorities. Furthermore, the Task Force never contemplated erecting a new universal preschool initiative upon a destabilized child care and early education system. On the contrary, the plan envisioned funding Illinois Preschool initially out of the Early Childhood Education Block Grant and the Department of Human services' child care budget. Despite this consensus, your budget undermines the very foundations of the Universal Preschool plan. We urge you, Governor Ryan, to reconsider this retreat from the principles and promise of the Illinois Preschool plan. For 20 years, the state of Illinois has demonstrated commitment to quality early care and education. Please restore funding to these vital programs to guarantee the future of all Illinois children. Members of the Governor's Task Force, Vince Allocco, El Valor Children’s Center Brenda Arskey, Chinese American Service League Barbara Bowman, Erikson Institute George Davis, Rockford Head Start Arne Duncan, Chicago Public Schools Marvin Edwards, Elgin District 46 Barbara Grace, Southern Region Early Childhood Program Beverly Gully, St. Xavier University Gordon Johnson Jane Garza Mancillas, El Hogar del Nino Harriet Meyer, Ounce of Prevention Fund John Millner, Elmhurst Chief of Police Susie Nall, Illinois Association of Early Childhood Education Sister Catherine Mary Norris, St. Vincent DePaul Center Jerry Stermer, Voices for Illinois Children Maxine Wortham, Peoria Public Schools cc: Steve Schnorf, Director, Bureau of the Budget Bridget Lamont, Director, Policy Development Hazel Loucks, Deputy Governor of Education
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