Early Childhood Education and Why it is Important

Early Childhood Education refers to the period of time between birth and when a child enters kindergarten. This is an essential time for children to develop social and emotional skills, and to build interests that may stick with them for a long time. It is during this stage of life that children are the most impressionable, and is integral to the development of the individual. 

In public schools, preschool teachers are generally required to have at least a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field. In Illinois, you must take and pass the Early Childhood Education content examination administered by the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS). Early Childhood educators help lay the foundation for education and discovery, for the rest of a child's life.

Essential Skills for Early Childhood Educators 

o Patience

o Communication

o Creativity

o Enthusiasm

o Organization

o Want to make an impact

o Kindness and Empathy

o Physical Stamina

o Supportive

Problems Facing Early Childhood Education

o Lack of resources

o Burnout

o Heightened safety concerns

o Lack of parent engagement

o Managing a classroom and managing relationship with caregivers

o Admin work on top of everything else

o Lack of recognition

o Lack of ECE development opportunities

Early Childhood Educator Shortage

According to a report done by Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools (IARSS), about 30% of the open Early Childhood positions in Illinois were unfilled in the 2022-2023 academic year. There is a huge need for Early Childhood educators, as this is an essential period of a child's development. 

Governor's Smart Start Illinois

Smart Start Illinois is a multi-year plan to provide every child with access to preschool, increase funding to childcare providers to raise wages and quality, invest in new and expanded early childhood facilities, and reach more vulnerable families with early support. Governor JB Pritzker visited Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center in Peoria and MacArthur Early Childhood Center in Macomb for Smart Start Illinois. By going to these schools Governor JB Pritzker acknowledged whether these schools were up to the standards they needed to be, and they were. Smart Start Illinois plans to eliminate early childhood deficits for 3-and-4-year-olds by 2027. This program has an investment of $250 million in programs and $100 million in facilities. This program will also add over 5,000 new preschool to Illinois. 

"Smart Start Illinois is all about quality childcare and early education giving children the best care possible start," said Governor JB Pritzker. "This program will be the beginning of the end of early childhood deserts in Illinois providing working families with more options for their children's care and education. I'm also proud to launch the nation's first Early Childhood Workforce Compensation Contract program, bringing stability to the field by increasing wages for a workforce that is primarily women and people of color, so we can attract and retain more professionals into the early childhood space."

More information below. 

ECACE Scholarship

The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship is a program that helps people who have experience in early childhood education and have an associate's degree in early childhood education get their bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education.

The Online Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity ECACE Scholarship Degree program is structured so that you can complete a bachelor’s degree consisting of 60sh of online coursework. We will connect you with an EIU mentor to help you through the process of registration, program planning, and gaining full access to scholarship funding.

If you are interesting in applying or are wanting more information, click below.

Early Childhood Education

Online Programs at EIU

EIU provides several online options for those wanted to pursue Early Childhood Education. Programs are through the Department of Teaching. Learning, and Foundation. Program options can also be found through the Department of Human Services and the School of Extended Learning. 

For more information please visit our website:

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