PAASSS Releases the 2026 Bilingual Activity Calendar
PAASSS is excited to share the launch of our 2026 Bilingual Activity Calendar, now available on paasss.org. This year’s calendar features our beloved mascot squirrels, Grundy and Kendall, on an imaginative journey through outer space while offering families free, simple, and engaging daily activities all year long.
PAASSS Receives Birth to Five Illinois Funding
The Plano Area Alliance Supporting Student Success (PAASSS) has been awarded $66,000 in new funding from Birth to Five Illinois to expand family engagement, strengthen community partnerships, and enhance coordinated early childhood systems across Grundy and Kendall Counties (Region 24).
The IRIS Network is Here!
The Plano Area Alliance Supporting Student Success (PAASSS) is proud to announce the official launch of the Integrated Referral and Intake System (IRIS) in Region 24, serving Grundy and Kendall Counties.
PAASSS Annual Report to Partners
We’re pleased to share that the PAASSS Annual Report for 2024-2025 has been completed. This report highlights the progress we’ve made together over the past year and celebrates the impact of our shared efforts on early childhood education in Grundy-Kendall Region 24.
PAASSS x EduDream: Driving Data-Informed Change in Early Childhood Education
In October 2024, Plano Area Alliance Supporting Student Success (PAASSS) launched a year-long partnership with EduDream to better understand the early childhood education and care (ECEC) landscape across Grundy and Kendall Counties in Illinois. The goal: to collect meaningful data and generate insights that can guide strategic planning and strengthen local systems.
Meet Kendall and Grundy: Your Region 24 Adventure Guides
We are excited to introduce Kendall and Grundy, two playful squirrels who help families across Region 24 learn, play, and grow together.
These local characters are the stars of our new children’s books, created for young children and their families in our community. As you read, you’ll follow Kendall and Grundy through real places in Region 24, encouraging families to explore local spots highlighted in the story.
PAASSS and EduDream Host Virtual Learning Session Focused on Early Childhood Education and Care in Region 24
On Thursday, June 5, 2025, Plano Area Alliance Supporting Student Success (PAASSS), in partnership with EduDream, will host a Virtual Learning Session at 10:00 a.m. The event is open to families, community leaders, elected officials, and potential funders, and will provide important data and insights on early childhood education and care in Grundy and Kendall Counties, also known as Region 24. Registration is open until June 3 at 11:50 p.m.
Our First Summer Activity Calendar
Exciting News! We’re thrilled to share our very first bilingual Summer Activity Calendar! Thanks to Birth to Five IL, we’ve created 3,500 copies filled with daily summer fun for June, July, and August. Each calendar is thoughtfully designed for little learners and completely free for early childhood programs in our region.First come, first served while supplies last.
Activities for At-Home: Counting
Activities with your child can be fun! Here are two counting activities to try.
Guiding Your Child’s Curiosity
Young children are curious and actively explore the world. This curiosity and exploration may look like inappropriate behavior when they do not follow directions from adults or touch items they should not.
Routines Are Important For Children
Consistent routines provide comfort and a sense of safety to young children. Following a schedule each day makes children feel safer and happier, which often leads to better behavior and cooperation.
Big News for Our Region 24 Families: Exciting Projects Ahead for 2025!
At PAASSS, we believe that strong communities build brighter futures for their children. That’s why we are overjoyed to share that we’ve been awarded $78,000 from Birth to Five Illinois and $5,718 from the Community Foundation of Grundy County to help us launch some incredible projects for the families in Grundy and Kendall Counties!