SPRINGFIELD — As a former kindergarten teacher, State Senator Natalie Toro is excited that Governor Pritzker has signed Senate Bill 1 into law this week, which establishes Illinois’ new Department of Early Childhood.

“Teaching kindergarten opened my eyes to how important the early years are for a child’s brain development, and setting them up for future success,” said Toro. “When support for early childhood development is inaccessible, we are not just allowing kids to be a little behind in school. We are really restricting their chances of success not just in school, but also in adulthood with their careers and personal lives, so making these programs easier to access is long overdue.”

Before this initiative, services for young children were housed in three separate state agencies, making it difficult and confusing for people to navigate and secure the services they need. This has led to many children and families not accessing care that would benefit them, especially those in historically underserved communities. These gaps in care contribute to families not having access to essential tools for early childhood development, impacting their education and career outcomes for generations, although they have great potential for success.

CHICAGO — Following President Joe Biden’s executive order expanding protections for spouses and children of U.S. citizens and establishing a new pathway to work visas for certain DACA recipients earlier this week, State Senator Natalie Toro (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“No family deserves to live in fear of being torn apart. However, for decades, mixed-status families have lived in this constant state of anxiety and shame, worried that they may be permanently separated from each other. All the while, those without permanent resident status worked tirelessly to provide for their families, contributing to our economy while they were terrified of deportation. President Biden’s recent executive action will eliminate these fears and allow for mixed-status families to feel more at home here, as they deserve to be after years of their contribution to our communities and country. I am pleased that the president has prioritized the needs of our immigrant families, as they often sacrifice the most for the least rewards, and I hope to see more improvements to our immigration system moving forward since there is more work to be done.”

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is launching the office’s FIRST EVER Teen Summer DMV Program, dedicating DMV services exclusively to teen drivers on Saturdays during the summer! The Teen Summer DMVs are located throughout Chicago West will be open on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm until August 31.

Parents and teens can call (800) 252-8980 to schedule an appointment.

SPRINGFIELD —After lengthy budget negotiations, State Senator Natalie Toro was pleased to vote for the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget – which will deliver on investments to early childhood education, the child tax credit, and disability services.

“Financial barriers to early childhood education can set kids back years in their educational development—something I witnessed firsthand as a former kindergarten teacher with students who struggled to catch up to their peers,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “All children in Illinois deserve access to high-quality early childhood education, and these initiatives will make these fundamental building blocks more accessible.”

The proposed budget includes $14 million to the Department of Early Childhood, and $4.3 million to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library early childhood literacy program. It also includes $50 million for a child tax credit to help working families with children under the age of three.

Additionally, the proposed budget provides pay raises for direct service providers and funds the Home Services Program, allocating additional funds to support growing caseloads. As a proud advocate for people with disabilities, Senator Toro is hopeful these investments will have a positive impact on Illinoisans with disabilities and their caregivers.

“People with disabilities deserve to be treated with dignity, and that includes having support from a robust staff at developmental centers that can help meet their needs,” said Toro. “I am proud to support a budget that priorities the care and safety of people with disabilities with these investments, and its support for direct service providers.”

The Fiscal Year 2025 budget passed the Senate Sunday.