April 24, 2013

Mayor Emanuel Highlights Early Learning Investments at Ounce of Prevention Luncheon

Recent Reforms and Investments Increase Access to High-Quality Early Learning Programs for Over 2,000 Children

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Mayor Emanuel Discusses Increasing Access to High-Quality Early Learning Programs at the Ounce of Prevention LuncheonMayor Emanuel Reads to Children in an Early Learning Class Last Fall

Today, Mayor Rahm Emanuel spoke at the Ounce of Prevention Luncheon and highlighted recent reforms and investments that are expanding access to high-quality early learning programs across the city. This comes on the heels of the Mayor's announcement earlier this month that new reforms and investments will create opportunity and access to high-quality early learning programs and wrap-around services associated with these programs for over 2,300 additional children across the city, for a total of approximately 44,600 children between the ages of 0-5. 

“It is our responsibility to ensure that every child has a quality education that allows them to succeed, regardless of where they live, and that begins with early learning programs,” said Mayor Emanuel. “We know investing early is the best possible foundation we can offer to our children. We are making the smart and critical investments in order to have all of Chicago’s children ready to learn by kindergarten.” 

Over the next three years, Chicago has committed $36 million in new funds to go directly towards the expansion of opportunities in high-quality early learning programs.  Studies have shown that a high-quality early start to learning is critical to future success and in Chicago; a student who attends a high-quality early learning program is 29 percent more likely to graduate from high school.

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Photo Caption: Mayor Emanuel Discusses Increasing Access to High-Quality Early Learning Programs at the Ounce of Prevention Luncheon

Photo Credit: Patrick Pyszka // City of Chicago

Photo Caption: Mayor Emanuel Reads to Children in an Early Learning Class Last Fall

Photo Credit: Brooke Collins // City of Chicago