As a member of the Early Childhood Coalition for Cook County, I read the December 27, 2014 article regarding an alternative learning facility in Cook County with concern about the information stated. Since 2003 when I began to volunteer to support upgrading early childhood services in Cook County, a multi-agency group has been meeting to build support and provide services for young children prenatal to five years and their families. This effort gained intensity and momentum with the formation of the Cook County Early Childhood Coalition last year. Coalition members have extensive background, expertise, and experience in early childhood programming and are committed to developing a comprehensive Cook County system of Early Childhood services. Minnesota lags behind most states in their financial and policy support of services for children 0 – 5 years old.
There is an urgent and well documented need for 0-5 services in Cook County, especially high quality childcare for families working in service and alternative schedule jobs. Early Childhood Family Education, high quality preschool, and Special Education services for 0-5 lack sufficient intensity and are underfunded in Cook County.
In October the Early Childhood Coalition endorsed a report presented by Principal Gwen Carman to the I.S.D. 166 Board of Education asking it to consider providing high quality: 1) childcare with extended hours; 2) preschool services based on the nationally recognized High Scope model; 3) ECFE at sites throughout Cook County; and 4) early identification of young children with special needs in a facility that would bring all Cook County stakeholders together in a joint effort.
The report suggested that the coalition would aggressively seek funding in collaboration with all possible sources; local including businesses, state, federal including Head Start, as well as large foundation grants.
In additional discussions Superintendent Beth Schwarz suggested that an alternative facility to serve Level IV special education students was a critical need for Cook County. All agreed that a recommendation to explore a planning grant for a facility to meet both critical needs should be made to the Board of Education. Family’s access to 0-5 services changes lives and must be available for all young children.
Sandra Taenzer
Retired Director
Early Childhood Services,
Schaumburg SD54
Hovland
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