Advocates Voice Concerns Over Chicago’s New Preschool Funding Guidelines

Dozens of Chicago preschools are expected to lose funding come December if they can’t meet the city’s new strict guidelines, including new criteria for teacher pay.

With the first day of school in Chicago on Tuesday, Sept. 3, several community-based organizations, and the preschools run by the Archdiocese of Chicago, could be dealt less funds than last year.

The city’s new preschool guidelines include increasing teacher salaries to $47,000 within five years. Child advocates have written to Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and asked her to intervene.

"We're trying to organize, and continue to support each other, but for the agencies that are not able to continue, that's a great concern for us," said child advocate Dana Garner.

Lisa Morrison Butler, the commissioner of the Department of Family and Support Services said it is not the department's intention to "walk away from everybody, and just say good luck."

Advocates asserted that an estimated 1,100 children may need a new preschool, and neighborhoods like Englewood and Austin are especially impacted.

"It's going to affect not only the children, not only the families, not only the communities, it will affect the staff that we employ, and ultimately, the agency that has been a community anchor in those communities for decades," child advocate Scott Perkins said.