Illinois Early Childhood Landscape
by Lily Padula Click here to read the full report…
Illinois’ early childhood system plays a central role in supporting children’s learning, development, well-being, and family stability from birth to age five. As Illinois transitions to the new Department of Early Childhood (IDEC),…
by Paula R. Worthington Click here to read the full report.…
By Lily PadulaClick here to read the full report.Executive SummaryThe recent federal government shutdown caused nationwide disruptions in…
By Lily Padula Illinois is in the process of consolidating early childhood services into a new agency, the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC). The Department will assume…
By Lily Padula Each fall, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) issues its…
By Paula R. Worthington Over 41 million individuals rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) to assist in buying food each month—including nearly 1.9 million individuals in Illinois. The current…
As the role of the federal government in funding state and local governments has shifted rapidly, it has become important to understand what federal funding looks like on a state-level basis. This dashboard provides detailed information on…
This report was updated on August 22, 2025 to incorporate additional details on K-12 Education.by Lily PadulaOn May 31, the Illinois General Assembly passed three budget bills for the 2026 fiscal year: the appropriations bill, which…