Sessy Nyman, Field Organizer and Government Relations Liaison with Day Care Action Council of Illinois Public Policy Program

Good Afternoon. My name is Sessy Nyman and I serve as the field Organizer and Government Relations Liaison with the Day Care Action Council of Illinois Public Policy Program. I am here with you again today, as I was last week in Hillside, to encourage this advisory board to recommend increased funding for quality early childhood education via our public education system. 

The Early Childhood Block Grant currently serves 55,000 children in 449 programs around the state. Fewer than 8% of these programs are currently offering a full (work) day, full calendar year option for families. Only 12 school districts participate in a Pre-K - child care collaboration to meet the needs of working parents, while meeting educational and developmental needs of children. 

I understand that there are competing priorities for new funds, however, recent research about brain development reveals that the foundations for reading, math, and social competence are created in a child's first years, well before primary schooling begins. One of the key goals of the ISBE Illinois Learning Standards is to teach all children in Illinois to read well by third grade. However, it is only through greater investments in early childhood education that Illinois will reach the goal. 

As elementary schools strive to meet these standards, they recognize that school achievement in general, and literacy in particular are strongly influenced by interactions and communications between children and the adults who care for them in the earliest years of life. Early childhood education for children birth through five will have long term savings, and more importantly will help children reach their greatest capacity. 

Thank you for your time, and I appreciate having an additional opportunity to encourage members of EFAB to expand funding, and encourage collaboration to maximize resources for the care and education of young children.