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Group Says More Needs to be Done for Early Childhood Education
The Ounce of Prevention Fund is grateful that Gov. Pat Quinn has put back some of the money for preschool, but is still warning that any cut is too big.

The fund's executive director, Diana Rauner, says Quinn's original 32 percent cut would have kicked about 30,000 children out of preschool this year. She says while that cut has been reduced to a 10 percent level, it still reflects too few slots for children. She says preschool programs are still trying to figure out how many children will not get in classes this year because of the cut.

Rauner says even in tough times, it's critical to properly fund preschool, because it’s one area that can be proven to improve kids' chances at success in elementary and secondary education, and in the workforce. She also says the state could have missed out on federal grant money, if Quinn would have proceeded with the 32 percent cuts. She says Congress is considering passing an "Early Learning Challenge Fund," which would offer grants for preschool programs, and says cuts in state funding would have left Illinois ineligible for eight years.

(Illinois Radio Network)
08 05 09 by Newsroom
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