$80 Million in Federal Funds Awarded For Illinois Early Childhood Education Programs

John Gregory -- Illinois Radio Network

Illinois will receive $80 million in federal grants to help low-income families send their kids to preschool.

The funds will specifically help 4-year-olds participate in early childhood education programs, but Gov. Pat Quinn hopes that illustrates the benefits that would result from increasing state funding for preschool programs.

“It’s so important that we not forget every 4-year-old, every 3-year-old, every 2-year-old, everybody who’s born, that we must invest more in early childhood education,” he said.

The state will receive a maximum of $20 million per year from the federal government over the next four years. The money will go to 26 school districts across the state, including schools in Decatur, Mount Vernon and Rockford.