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Governor Pritzker Visits Carole Robertson Center to Announce Unified State Agency for Early Childhood

JB Pritzker announced a groundbreaking proposal to create a unified state agency that would streamline early childhood programs across Illinois. This new agency will make it easier for families to access quality, affordable early care and education.

In his remarks, Governor Pritzker reflected on the impact early education and care providers like the Carole Robertson Center make on Illinois families. “[The Center is] a place we’ve chosen to come to time and time again because of the tremendous work that gets done here, and I can’t think of a better place to be this morning than right here,” he said.

To ensure a solid foundation for the future state agency, Pritzker also announced the creation of a transition and advisory committee, appointing our very own Bela Moté as its chair.

“Vital to our success will be the inclusion of the most important voices—that’s our parents and our providers,” the Governor said. He cited Bela’s career-spanning commitments to children through various roles in advocacy, philanthropy, and direct service leadership as reasons why she will be “a huge asset to the state in this capacity.”

Bela will undoubtedly provide critical guidance to the early childhood-focused agency. As professionals in the industry, we are all excited to see this transformational work begin.

Since 1976, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning has been dedicated to educating, enriching, and empowering children and families through comprehensive child and family development programs.