On Thursday, October 17, 2024, the Plano Area Alliance Supporting Student Success (PAASSS) and the Grundy/Kendall Regional Office of Education (ROE) held a successful Regional Listening Session at the Morris Country Club. The event brought together close to 50 local leaders from the early childhood education and care sectors, along with several elected officials, including Illinois State Senator Sue Rezin, Illinois State Representative Jed Davis, and Regional Superintendent Chris Mehochko.
Laurel Mateyka, founder and CEO of PAASSS, facilitated the session on behalf of the Transition Advisory Committee and Afton Partners. Attendees were treated to a buffet breakfast while engaging in meaningful discussions about the future of early childhood education in Illinois. The session provided an overview of the early childhood education and care system in the state and addressed the ongoing efforts to establish a new Department of Early Childhood.
Attendees also learned about the transition process to this new agency and the need for a streamlined and unified system to better serve Illinois families and children. The presentation was followed by an interactive feedback session, where participants shared their insights and perspectives on the proposed changes. This valuable feedback, collected through survey questions designed by the Transition Advisory Committee and Afton Partners, will be used to inform future decisions and policy adjustments.
The session marked a significant step forward in building a stronger foundation for early childhood education and care in Illinois, and the active involvement of community leaders and policymakers reflects the commitment to ensuring a seamless transition to the new department.
