Education advocates expressed their support for a budget proposal increasing investment in Illinois schools and teachers during a Senate Early Childhood Education subject matter hearing on Thursday.
Gov. JB Pritzker rolled out his Smart Start Illinois initiative during his February state of the state address, a plan which he says will improve educational service and access while preventing tax increases. Among its several components, the initiative would provide preschool access to every Illinois child ages three to four by 2027 and a $70 million plan to address teacher shortages throughout the state.
Related:Springfield District 186, local lawmakers hopeful Pritzker's pre-K plan will expand access
The committee hearing featured several proponents of the governor's initiative that could be included in a budget approved by lawmakers in coming weeks. Multiple speakers touched on the underfunding of child care centers in the state which they say has pushed some workers out of the field and thus severely limits how many children they can serve.
"Early childhood educators are drastically underpaid," said Edgar Ramirez, president and CEO of Chicago Commons which provides early education to 1,800 children. Educators have a lower starting pay at $17 per hour at his school than places like Amazon, he said, despite having to obtain credentials and 60 credit hours post-high school to do the job.
The low pay has added to instability for many child care centers and its students...
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