SB3294 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 20256 SPS 69796 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB3294

Introduced 2/11/2020, by Sen. Ram Villivalam

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 10/7.11 new

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall create a 4-year outdoor preschool pilot program. Provides that 10 pilot locations shall be selected for the first year of the pilot program, with additional locations able to apply after the first year. Requires the Department to convene an advisory group to inform and support the implementation of the pilot program. Requires the Department to provide the General Assembly and Governor with reports on the participation of providers and children in the program and recommendations on modifying or expanding the availability of outdoor preschools. Repeals the provisions on January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Child Care Act of 1969 is amended by adding Section 7.11 as follows:

(225 ILCS 10/7.11 new)

Sec. 7.11. Outdoor preschool pilot program.

(a) The General Assembly finds that outdoor, nature-based early learning and child care programs are in high demand but are unlicensed under existing law and thus unable to offer full-day programs, which many working families are seeking. The General Assembly further finds that the outdoor preschool model could help expand the number of high quality early learning opportunities available to families throughout the State, particularly in areas where preschool-appropriate indoor space is unavailable or unaffordable. Additionally, when early learning programs spend less on their physical facilities, they are able to spend more on recruiting and retaining teachers and other early learning professionals. The General Assembly also finds that research on outdoor preschools operating in Scandinavian countries for decades has demonstrated a positive impact on children's development, including improved cognitive and social skills when children transition to grade school. The General Assembly, therefore, intends to establish a pilot program to license outdoor preschools in order to expand access to affordable, high quality early learning programs and to further investigate the benefits of outdoor, nature-based classrooms for Illinois children and families.

(b) For purposes of this Section, "outdoor, nature-based early learning and child care program" means an agency-offered program operated primarily outdoors in which children are enrolled on a regular basis for 3 or more hours per day.

(c) The Department shall establish a pilot program to license outdoor, nature-based early learning and child care programs. The pilot program shall commence August 31, 2020 and conclude June 30, 2024.

(d) The Department shall adopt rules to implement the pilot program and may waive or adapt licensing requirements when necessary to allow for the operation of outdoor classrooms.

(e) As part of the pilot program, the Department shall explore options for developing a quality rating and improvement system for outdoor preschools. The Department may receive and expend funds from philanthropic organizations in order to implement this Section. The Department shall include a discussion of options and recommendations in the final report required under this Section.

(f) The Department shall select up to 10 pilot locations during the first year of the pilot program. Beginning August 31, 2021, additional outdoor, nature-based early learning and child care programs may apply to participate in the pilot program. When selecting and approving pilot program locations, the Department shall aim to select a mix of rural, urban, and suburban locations and may give priority to:

(1) areas where there are few or limited licensed early learning programs;

(2) areas of need where licensed early learning programs are at or near full capacity and where access may be restricted by one or more enrollment waiting lists; and

(3) areas where an outdoor early learning program would provide more family choice.

(g) The Department shall convene an advisory group of outdoor, nature-based early learning practitioners to inform and support implementation of the pilot program.

(h) The Department shall provide the following reports to the General Assembly and the Governor:

(1) by January 15, 2021, and annually thereafter through January 15, 2024, a brief status report describing implementation of the pilot program, including a description of participating providers and the number of children and families being served;

(2) by November 30, 2024, a full report on findings from the pilot program, including recommendations for modifying or expanding the availability of outdoor, nature-based early learning and child care programs; the final report also must include a discussion of potential options to mitigate the uncertainty for families and participating providers during the final 6 months of the pilot program when legislation may be pending.

(i) The provisions of this Section are subject to appropriation.

(j) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2026.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.