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Excelerate™ EARLY LEARNING

 Southern Illinois families have a variety of quality early learning options from which to choose for their young children. These high quality  programs are designed to promote children's optimal development so they will be ready to succeed when they start school. ​
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ExceleRate™ Illinois helps parents  find an early learning provider who makes quality a priority. By supporting and recognizing continuous quality improvement in early learning, ExceleRate™ Illinois provides parents with an objective way to make quality a part of your decision making. ​
​Parents searching for quality early learning options can use a special ExceleRate™ search tool  to help find a quality early learning program in their community.
ExceleRate  learning programs for children ages 3-5 yrs of age in the region include:
  • Head Start
  • Pre-K
  • Bronze,Silver, and Gold Circle of Quality Child Care Centers and Homes

Head Start and Prek both have specific eligibility guidelines. Most of these programs operate only during the school year and some offer only part day programming . There is no charge to the family for their child to participate in these programs.
Private preschool and  ExceleRate child care centers are fee based programs. Most child care centers offer full day, full year programming.  Parents enrolling their children in these programs may be eligible for assistance through the IDHS Child Care Assistance (CCAP) program which is administered by CCR&R. For more information  on go to 
A variety of high quality early childhood programs and services are also available to best meet the needs of families with children under the age of three.

These include:
  • Prevention Initiative
  • Healthy Families/ Home Visiting Programs
  • Early Head Start​​, Bronze, Silver and Gold Circle of Quality Child Care Centers and Homes ​
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Understanding the difference between all the different  programs can be confusing to families. Making a decision of what will work best for you and your child may be difficult and stressful. Call CCR&R at 1-800-548-5563 to speak with an Early Learning Specialist.  He/she can answer your questions and provide you with more information to help in your decision. 

QUICK LINKS

Finding Child Care
​Paying for Child Care
​ExcleRate™ Early Learning 
​Developmental Screening
Resources and Links ​​
HEAD START PROGRAMS
Head Start is a national program, which provides comprehensive developmental services for primarily low-income, pre-school children ages three-five and social services for their families. Specific services for children focus on education, socio-emotional development, physical and mental health and nutrition. The cornerstone of the program is parent and community involvement which has made it one of the most successful pre-school programs in the country.
ISBE PREKINDERGARTEN
​The Illinois State Board of Education provides funding for pre-school programs administered through local school districts and in partnership with child care centers. The majority of these programs are  half-day, although some programs have recently expanded to no offer full day services.  Pre-kindergarten focuses on school readiness with a high priority on family involvement. Often the program includes a home visit component. Criteria for admittance to these programs varies by school district/ program.
PRIVATE PRESCHOOLS
A private preschool can be  good program option for parents who are looking for a social and learning environment for their child on a morning or afternoon schedule. Preschools usually enroll children ages three years  to five years of age, and most run on a school-year calendar. There are various types of preschool programs available, from a traditional program to a program that follows a Montessori or Reggio Emilia approach. Knowing your child and his/ her needs will help you to determine what type of preschool environment will suit him/her best.
EXCELERATE CHILD CARE PROGRAMS
Child Care programs usually operate full day/ full year programs for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years.  Many times, child care programs will also have their own preschool and/or collaborate with the public school or Head Start to provide those programs in a full day setting.