Federal Grant Award Summary

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood received a $4.21 million Project Grant from the Office of Head Start (CFDA 93.600) effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, to deliver comprehensive early childhood education and family support services across Illinois. Under the Head Start program, the awardee will provide educational instruction, health and nutritional support, social-emotional development programming, and family engagement initiatives designed to promote school readiness among low-income children and their families. Services will target both traditional Head Start preschool programs serving three- and four-year-old children and Early Head Start programs serving infants, toddlers, and pregnant women.

The award requires the awardee to provide a 20 percent non-federal match and maintain compliance with federal performance standards related to school readiness outcomes, health and family well-being metrics, and applicable federal requirements. Recipients are eligible for non-competing continuation funding in subsequent years based on satisfactory progress and compliance with award terms and conditions. All program operations and financial records must be maintained in accordance with 2 Code of Federal Regulations Part 200 and applicable Head Start-specific audit requirements established by the Administration for Children and Families.