Giving Compass' Take:

• In an effort to address concerns about losing preschoolers and staff to public schools, Chicago will steer an additional $50 million toward community-based programs to help babies, toddlers and 3-year-olds. 

• How can other large cities in America channel money into preschool funding? 

• Learn about growth in online preschool programs. 

Despite a “significant” state structural budget deficit, Illinois and Chicago will continue investing in early childhood education, leaders made clear on Friday.

In line with his vision of expanding early education, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Chicago will add more than 100 pre-kindergarten classrooms in 28 communities next school year, an initiative that will cost $27 million. The city also will steer $50 million to community preschool and day care providers to help them expand their clientele to infants, toddlers and 3-year-olds.

And statewide, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said for the first time that he expects that universal preschool for 4-year-olds would become a reality within four years.

Read the full article about Chicago's investment in preschool programs by Cassie Walker Burke at Chalkbeat