§ 1-10 — Purpose

It is the purpose of this Act to provide for the creation of the Department of Early Childhood and to transfer to it certain rights, powers, duties, and functions currently exercised by various agencies of State Government. The Department of Early Childhood shall be the lead State agency for administering and providing early childhood education and care programs and services to children and families. This Act centralizes home-visiting services, early intervention services, preschool services, child care services, licensing for day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes, and other early childhood education and care programs and administrative functions historically managed by the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Centralizing early childhood functions into a single State agency is intended to simplify the process for parents and caregivers to identify and enroll children in early childhood services, to create new, equity-driven statewide systems, to streamline administrative functions for providers, and to improve kindergarten readiness for children.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)