Moving Towards A System is the first-ever comprehensive, statewide needs assessment of early childhood care and education in Illinois. This study analyzes the need for three government-funded programs (subsidized child care, Head Start, and Pre-K) and the need for child care in working families of all incomes. These areas of care and education are assessed for children younger than six years in all 102 Illinois counties and 66 municipalities with populations of 30,000 or greater.

The three publications that comprise Moving Towards A System are Report Preview [PDF 120kb], the Full Report [PDF 1.3MB] , and The Community Profiles Fact Book Background and Introduction [PDF 124kb] (168 community profiles). Each county and municipality profile has been provided here (sample below).

To access community profiles for individual counties and municipalities, click on County Map, Municipality Map, or Complete List. We recommend reading the Profile Key [PDF 145kb] for an explanation of the information in each profile.