Carbondale Reporter

State Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud) issued a recent Facebook post informing the public about the Illinois State Board of Education's (ISBE) initiative to provide financial support for preschool programs.

"Illinois ranks 8th in the nation for preschool enrollment – that's pretty awesome!" he said in the post. "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."

The ISBE has introduced the 2024 Early Childhood Block Grant, which is open to various organizations including public or private not-for-profit entities and for-profit entities with experience serving young children and their families. The deadline for submitting proposals for the block grant application is 4 p.m. on June 30. The proposed programs must cater to children and families residing outside of Chicago. A webinar providing technical assistance is also available.

To prioritize areas with limited access to preschool education, the ISBE has compiled a list of 197 school districts considered to be preschool deserts for the fiscal year 2024 Early Childhood Block Grant program. Some of the districts on the list include Darien School District 61, Morris School District 54, DeKalb CUSD428, Bloomingdale School District 13, Waukegan CUSD 60, Eureka CUD 140 and Herrin CUSD 4.

On June 15, Friess shared a news release regarding an extension to the block grant application deadline. The release provided further details about the objectives and purpose of the block grant program.

"The 2024 Early Childhood Block Grant from the Illinois State Board of Education is aimed at increasing access to preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds across the state and filling critical gaps in underserved areas," the release said. "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!"

There are valuable resources provided to assist applicants in the Early Childhood Block Grant program, the ISBE said. These resources include a tutorial on the preschool desert map, frequently asked questions that are regularly updated for proposal clarification, and the availability of the Birth to Five Illinois Regional Team. The team is dedicated to supporting applicants by providing guidance in completing the grant, understanding the data, and connecting them with grant writing assistance if needed.

Friess is a lifelong Illinois resident who has been representing the 115th District in the Illinois House of Representatives since 2021, the General Assembly website said. His legislative experience includes serving on a variety of committees, including the Adoption & Child Welfare, Cybersecurity, Family Law & Probate, and Higher Ed-Special Topics committees.