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FY 2024 ECBG Communications Toolkit
Sample Newsletter Copy

ISBE encourages providers to apply for preschool funding to serve children in Illinois preschool deserts

Illinois has a plan to make this the best state in the nation to raise a family. Step No. 1: Ensure that ALL children can attend a high-quality preschool. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is making that possible by offering grants to help existing preschools grow and new programs get up and running. 

ISBE encourages entities in preschool deserts to apply for the Early Childhood Block Grant by 4 p.m. June 30. Access to preschool provides an essential foundation for the trajectory of a child's well-being and academic outcomes. We need eligible providers in these preschool deserts to apply for funding and provide free preschool to Illinois' children and the families who need it.

The number of programs awarded will be determined by the number of applications received and the amount of funds available, pending the fiscal year 2024 state budget. Programs that were funded in FY 2019, FY 2020, and FY 2023 do not need to apply to maintain current funding and should only apply to seek additional funding to expand their program.

Want to learn more? Join ISBE for a technical assistance session at 10 a.m. on May 8 or May 23. Register for the ​FY 2024 ECBG technical assistance webinar here.

The Birth to Five Illinois Regional Team also is available throughout the application window to assist with accessing and understanding data; connecting applicants to grant-writing suppor where possible and assisting community-based providers, such as family child care homes, with identifying opportunities for collaboration and partners to apply for funding.​

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​FY 2024 ECBG Communications Toolkit
Sample Talking Points 

ELEVATOR PITCH

• We are encouraging providers in preschool deserts across the state to apply for funding.
• This is the first step in Governor JB Pritzker's four-year Smart Start Illinois plan to completely eliminate preschool deserts in Illinois.
• We want to make Illinois the best state in the nation to raise a family.
• Eligible applicants (minus Chicago Public Schools):
• Public school districts
• Regional Offices of Education
• University laboratory schools approved by ISBE
• Charter schools
• Area vocational centers
• The application is open to a wide range of applicants. They can be public or private, for profit or nonprofit, as long as they have experience providing educational, health, social, or child development services to young children and their families.
• Specifically, we're issuing a call to action to school districts, private schools and day cares, churches, and other community-based organizations to help close gaps in access to preschool by applying for funding.
• Application deadline is June 30.

FOLLOW-UPS

• How much we're able to expand preschool next year will depend on the final state budget, but we're advocating for an additional $75 million in fiscal year 2024 so that an additional 5,000 children will have access to state-funded preschool.
• Programs that were funded in FY 2019, FY 2020, and FY 2023 do not need to apply to maintain current funding and should only apply to seek additional funding to expand their program.
• Help is available to new applicants! The Birth to Five Illinois Regional Team is available help entities throughout the application process. We also have technical assistance webinars and other resources available on our Request for Proposals Information webpage.

What is a PRESCHOOL “desert"?

• Illinois ranks eighth in the nation for preschool enrollment – that's amazing!
• But there are still areas throughout the state with an insufficient number of publicly funded preschool seats to serve at least 80% of 3- and 4-year-old children from low-income families.
• We're encouraging eligible providers in these preschool deserts to apply for funding and provide free preschool to Illinois' children and the families who need it.
• Chicago Public Schools receives a separate grant for preschool.

preschool for all vs. preschool for all expansion

• PFA - A minimum of 2.5 hours/day
• PFAE - A minimum of five hours, plus more wraparound wellness services for children and families

Benefits of preschool

• Sets the stage for lifelong growth and development.
• Provides an essential foundation for the trajectory of a child's well-being and academic outcomes.
• While all youngsters benefit from preschool, low-income and disadvantaged children often make the most gains
• The data shows that Illinois schools do a fantastic job of educating  students from kindergarten through high school, but by the time they start kindergarten, we already see gaps whether by income, race, or geography.
• Preschool is the best investment we can make in our children's future.

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​FY 2024 ECBG Communications Toolkit
Sample Social Media Copy

TWITTER:

1. Illinois has a plan to make this the best state in the nation to raise a family. Step one: ensure that ALL children can attend a high-quality preschool. @ISBEnews is offering grants to launch NEW programs and help existing preschools GROW. Apply here: www.isbe.net/preschool
   
2.  What is a "preschool desert"? It's a place without enough preschool spaces to serve at least 80% of low-income children in the area. @ISBEnews has grants available to grow preschools in those areas. Existing and aspiring programs should apply today! www.isbe.net/preschool
3.  Do you live in a preschool desert?
   178 cities and towns in Illinois do not have enough preschool seats. @ISBEnews is offering grants to expand preschool across the state. Schools, churches, daycares, and other organizations can apply for funding. Learn more here: https://isbe.net/preschool
4.  Did you know that 178 cities and towns in Illinois are preschool deserts? That means there's not enough preschool programs to serve all children.
   Let's change that! Organizations that provide educational services can apply for preschool funding here: https://isbe.net/preschool
5.  Listen up... I just learned that _________ is a preschool desert. That means families do not have enough access to free, high-quality preschool.
   RT this.
   We need every provider in _________ to apply for the new preschool grants from @ISBEnews: https://isbe.net/preschool
6. Illinois' Early Childhood Block Grant has one goal for the next year: To provide preschool for 5,000 more children in Illinois. Existing programs that want to grow and new programs that want to launch should apply for funding today! Apply at www.isbe.net/preschool
   
7. Illinois ranks 8th in the nation for preschool enrollment, but some areas don't have enough spaces to serve all children. @ISBEnews has GRANTS available to grow current programs and help launch new preschools in preschool deserts. Learn more at www.isbe.net/preschool
   
8. Together, we can end preschool deserts in Illinois.
   @ISBENews has grants available to help establish new preschool programs and to help existing preschools grow. Learn more here: https://isbe.net/preschool
   Need help with your application? Contact @BirthtoFiveIL for assistance.
   
9. RT this if you have ever struggled to find affordable preschool for your child.
   To make Illinois the best place to raise a family, @ISBEnews has grants available to expand free, high-quality preschool programs so more children can attend.
   Apply here: https://isbe.net/preschool

FACEBOOK

1. Illinois ranks 8th in the nation for preschool enrollment – that's pretty awesome! But some areas do not have enough publicly funded preschool spaces to serve at least 80% of low-income children. We call these areas "preschool deserts." To turn them into preschool oases, @IllinoisStateBoardOfEducation has grants available to expand existing programs and to launch new ones. Applications are due June 30. Learn how to apply for funding here: www.isbe.net/preschool
   
2.  What is a "preschool desert"? It's any place that doesn't have enough preschool spaces to serve at least 80% of the low-income children. The @IllinoisStateBoardOfEducation has grants available to turn those deserts into oases.
   Share this post to help spread this word about this opportunity for funds to grow existing preschools and establish new ones. You can learn more about the available grants at https://isbe.net/preschool.
3.  178 cities and towns in Illinois are preschool deserts. That means families do not have enough access to free, high-quality preschool.
   The 2024 Early Childhood Block Grant from the @IllinoisStateBoardOfEducation is aimed at increasing access to preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds across the state and filling critical gaps in underserved areas.
   Organizations such as schools, daycares, churches, community centers, and more can apply for funding to start or expand a preschool. And there's help available for new applicants!
   Learn more and apply at https://isbe.net/preschool.
4.  Share this post if you have ever struggled to find affordable preschool for your child.
   Did you know that 178 cities and towns in Illinois are preschool deserts? That means families there do not have enough access to free, high-quality preschool.
   To make Illinois the best place to raise a family, the @IllinoisStateBoardOfEducation has grants available to expand free, high-quality preschool programs so more children can attend.
   Together, we can end preschool deserts. Share this post to help spread the word about these new preschool grants.
   

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