The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released the Request for Proposals to award $75 million in Smart Start Illinois funding to expand access to preschool, pending appropriations. The grant is the next step in Governor JB Pritzker’s four-year Smart Start Illinois plan to fully eliminate preschool deserts in Illinois. The FY 2025 program aims to build on the successes of FY 2024 and serve 5,000 additional children through Preschool for All and Preschool for All Expansion programs in preschool deserts statewide. The inaugural year of the Smart Start Illinois initiative exceeded its goal by providing 5,866 new preschool seats last year, contributing to the broader goal of serving 20,000 additional children and ensuring equitable access to preschool by FY 2027.  The Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG) provides funding for three programs: 

• Preschool for All (PFA) – Half-day (2.5 hours per day), high-quality preschool for 3-5-year-olds with licensed teachers and standards-aligned curriculum. 

• Preschool for All Expansion (PFAE) – Full-day (five hours per day), high-quality preschool, along with comprehensive physical and mental health services designed to serve 3-5-year-olds in the highest-need communities. 

• Prevention Initiative (PI) – Provides services for children and families prenatal to 3 years old in two program options: center-based care and home visiting. The FY 2025 Request for Proposals (RFP) will fund only center-based PI services for children 6 weeks to 3 years of age in child care centers licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. With any remaining available funds, ISBE will prioritize raising the base salary requirements of home visitors, home visitor supervisors, doulas, and doula supervisors to align with similar positions at the Illinois Department of Human Services. This is a part of an effort to align home visiting programs in the state.