Illinois Early Learning

Tool Search: Early Learning

The Early Learning tool lists student information related to programs designed to improve the health, social-emotional and cognitive outcomes for all students from birth through third grade, using the federal guidelines. 

Multiple Early Learning Records can be entered for a student.

See the core Early Learning article for information on necessary tool rights, available Ad hoc fields, and guidance on adding and printing Early Learning records.

Screenshot of a student's Early Learning record.Early Learning Record

Early Learning Detail Fields

Service Location

The agency type where student receives the primary service.

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CodeDescriptionDefinition
01Public School District
02Higher Education InstitutionA college, university, vocational school, or other post-secondary educational institution offering higher education beyond high school.
03Licensed Child Care Center
Child Care Center is any child care facility which regularly provides child care for less than 24 hours per day and is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
04Licensed Family Child Care Home
Family Child Care Home is any family home which provides child care for more than 3 up to a maximum of 12 children for less than 24 hours per day and is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
05Child's Home
06Community-based Organization
Community-based organization (CBO) is a public or private nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness that (A) is representative of a community or significant segments of a community; and (B) provides educational or related services to individuals in the community.
07Faith-based Organization
Faith-based organization (FBO) is used to refer to religious organizations and other charitable organizations affiliated or identified with one or more religious groups.
09Non-Public School
A nonpublic school provides general educational services to students in one or more of the grades K-12. Nonpublic schools voluntarily choosing to be registered with the Illinois State Board of Education must be nonprofit, meet various requirements outlined in statute and rule, and their services must include instruction in all of the branches of education taught to children of corresponding age and grade in the public schools, including the language arts, mathematics, the biological, physical and social sciences, the fine arts, and physical development and health.
10Outside School Environment
Any service location not defined above that is outside of the school environment and where a student receives preschool educational programming.
11
Regional Office of Education/ 
Intermediate Service Center

A Regional Office of Education is a local educational agency established pursuant to Section 3A4 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/3A-4] to provide the services and programs by regions. By law, Intermediate Service Centers serve the functions of Regional Superintendents of Schools and Regional Offices of Education in Suburban Cook County.
12Special Education Cooperative
Joint agreements/cooperatives are established by multiple school districts “to provide needed special education facilities and to employ a director and other professional workers...” (105 ILCS 5/10-22.31) “...for the purpose of providing comprehensive and 
cost-efficient special education services” (Illinois School Code, 2012, p.297).

Database Location:

EarlyLearning.location

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.location

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

Program

Funding is used to administer a preschool program where children ages 3-5 are provided educational services.

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CodeDescriptionDefinition
01Preschool for AllThe child is attending an Early Childhood Block Grant state funded preschool classroom for 3 to 5-year-old children.
02Preschool for ExpansionThe child is attending an Early Childhood Block Grant state funded preschool classroom for 3 to 5-year-old children.
03Head StartFederal program administered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provides comprehensive Early Childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent-involvement services to low-income children and families.
04IDEAThe child is attending a preschool classroom for 3 to 5-year-old children and has an IEP. At a minimum, some funding for this child is paid with Federal IDEA or state Special Education funds.
05Preschool Title IThe child is attending a preschool program for 3 to 5-year-old children. At a minimum, some funding for this child comes from Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by Every Student Succeeds Act.
06Local DistrictThe child is attending a preschool program for 3 to 5-year-old children. At a minimum, some funding for this child is paid with local dollars.
07Tuition BasedThe child is attending a preschool classroom for 3 to 5-year-old children. At a minimum, some funding for this child is paid through families paying tuition.

Database Location:

EarlyLearning.setting

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.setting

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

Household Income Eligibility

Use the Household Income Eligibility field to indicate the Household Income Criteria. The child is from a family whose income is less than 50%, 100%, 200% or 400% the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.EligibilityCategory

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.eligibilityCategories

Reports:

ISBE Demographics and Early Childhood Extract V3

Enrollment Type

The type of Early Childhood program in which the child is enrolled. Users may select multiple enrollment types.

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.enrollmentType

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.enrollmentTypes

Reports:

ISBE Demographics and Early Childhood Extract V3

Federal/State Funding

Indicates the student's federal funding type. 

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.funding

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.federalFundingServices

Reports:

ISBE Demographics and Early Childhood Extract V3

Meets At Risk Criteria

Indicates the student meets the definition of an At Risk student - students who are likely to fail or drop out of their school based on grades, absenteeism and disruptive behavior.

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.enrollmentType

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.meetsAtRiskCriteria

Reports:

ISBE Demographics and Early Childhood Extract V3

Services Received

Use the Services Received field to select all services provided to the student.

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CodeDescriptionDefinition
01Child WelfareThe child or their family has received services from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), including foster care, intact family services or the parent has been a youth in care.
02Open services within past yearThe family has been assigned a caseworker by DCFS and is currently receiving or in the past year has received family services.
03Parent of child in Youth care is ward of stateEither parent of the child is currently, or at any point in the past year, has been a youth in care.
04TANF family serviceThe Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides temporary financial assistance for pregnant women and families with one or more dependent children. TANF provides financial assistance to help pay for food, shelter, utilities, and expenses other than medical.
05WIC family serviceWIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
06SNAP family serviceThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamps) helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. Benefits are provided on the Illinois Link Card –an electronic card that is accepted at most grocery stores. The program is managed by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Department of Human Services administers the program in Illinois.
07Housing SubsidySubsidized housing or social housing is government supported accommodation for people with low to moderate incomes. Forms of subsidies include direct housing subsidies, non-profit housing, public housing, rent supplements and some forms of co-operative and private sector housing.
08CCAP SubsidyAssistance with paying for child care services for low income working families from the Child Care Assistance Program through the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Database Location:

EarlyLearning.services

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.servicesReceived

Reports:

ISBE Demographics and Early Childhood Extract V3

Reason For Ending Program

Reason for which the student ended the program. Users must enter a reason if the program has an end date.

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CodeDescriptionDefinition
01Services EndedClosing a record.
02TransitionedTransitioned to another program as a result of the program transition plan.
99ErroneousClosing an erroneously created record.

Database Location:

EarlyLearning.exitReason

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.exitReason

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

IL Early Learning Detail Fields 

The fields in the IL Early Learning Detail editor are specific to the state of Illinois and are described in further detail below.

Screenshot of the Early Learning detail editor. IL Early Learning Detail

Provider Type

A Provider record must be added to the following Programs before an enrollment can be exited: Preschool for All, Preschool for All Expansion, IDEA, and Preschool Title.

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CodeDescriptionDefinition
200Teacher
202Bilingual Education Teacher
204Visiting International Teacher
207Speech Language Pathology Teacher
250Special Education Teacher
251Bilingual Special Education Teacher
310Paraprofessional
TBETeacher with Bilingual TBE EndorsementTeacher with a Professional Educator License (PEL) that also has a Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) Endorsement.
TPITeacher with Bilingual TPI EndorsementTeacher with a Professional Educator License (PEL) that also has a Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) Endorsement.
TSETeacher with Early Childhood Special Education ApprovalTeacher with a Professional Educator License (PEL) that also has an Early Childhood Special Education Approval.
HHVHead Start Home VisitorThe staff member in the home-based program option assigned to work with parents to provide comprehensive services to children and their families through home visits and group socialization activities.
HLTHead Start Lead TeacherThe staff member in a center-based program that has at least an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in child development or early childhood education, equivalent coursework or otherwise meet the requirements of the of the Head Start Act.
HTAHead Start Teacher AssistantThe staff member in a center-based program that has a minimum of a CDA credential and meets the requirements of the Head Start Act.

Database Location:

EarlyLearning:providerType

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.providerType

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

IEIN Number

Referred to as Illinois Educator Identifying Number (IEIN) in Illinois. The IElN value is the teacher’s certificate number. Required to track teachers in the state of Illinois. All Illinois Certified teachers have an IEIN number.

A different IEIN value can be entered for each separate Early Learning record to identify the  correct staff person for each Early Learning Program and Service provided.

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.eiNumber

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.eiNumber

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

Gateway Registry Member ID

Gateways Registry Membership tracks education, credentials, and all Registry trainings attended in the Registry database. This information is accessible via the member's Professional Development Record (PDR). 

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.gatewayRegistryMemberID

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.gatewayRegistryMemberID

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

Provider Has Gateways Credential

Gateways Credentials are symbols of an individual's professional achievement that show their knowledge, skills, and experience in caring for and educating children. Credentials are awarded and recognized by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Bureau of Child Care  and Development.

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.providerHasGatewaysCredential

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.providerHasGatewaysCredential

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

Reason for Ending Provider

Use this field to select the reason for which the provider left the program.

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.endingProviderReason

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.endingProviderReason

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

Service Type

Service provided by the program.

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CodeDescriptionDefinitionValid For
01Half Day AMThe child is attending a classroom for 3 to 5-year-old children for less than a full day in the morning.Preschool for All, Head Start, IDEA, Local District, Tuition Based.
02Half Day PMThe child is attending a classroom for 3 to 5-year-old children for less than a full day in the afternoon.Preschool for All, Head Start, IDEA, Local District, Tuition Based
03Full DayThe child is attending a full day classroom for 3 to 5-year-old children for 5 or more hours per day.Preschool for All, Head Start, IDEA, Local District, Tuition Based
04State - Preschool full Day ExpansionThe child is attending a full day preschool classroom that meets all of the Preschool for All Expansion requirements.Preschool for All Expansion Programs.
05Home Bound Instruction•For IDEA program: A student who is receiving home/hospital instructional services, provided by the district.Preschool for All, Preschool for All Expansion, IDEA, Local District, Tuition Based.
06Home Visiting•For all other associated programs: Child is receiving preschool educational programming outside of the school environment that’s not required.Head Start Programs.
07Speech only ServicesHome visits and group socialization activities for families and their children.IDEA Programs.
08Preschool Title I
Preschool Title I Programs.

Database Location:

EarlyLearning.serviceType

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.serviceType

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

Provider Start Date

The date on which the program services began. This must be the same date as the Program Start Date (not before or after). For subsequent provider records, this date can be equal to or after the Program Start Date, and before the Program End Date, or after the Program Start Date and the same as the Program End Date.

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.servicesStartDate

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.servicesStartDate

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

Provider End Date

The date on which program services ended. The date must be the same as the Provider Start Date, or after the Provider Start Date and before the Program End Date, or after the Provider Start Date and the same date as the Program End Date.

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.servicesEndDate

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.servicesEndDate

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

In Classroom IDEA

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act IDEA) retains the basic rights and protections for children with disabilities. Use this checkbox to indicate whether the child is receiving special education services within the general education classroom.

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.classroomIDEA

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.classroomIDEA

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

Eligibility Determination Date

Use this field to indicate the date on which the student is eligible for Special Education.

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.eligibilityDate

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.eligibilityDate

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

Referral by CFC

Check this box if the child was referred to the program by Child and Family Connections (CFC).

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.referralCFC

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.referralCFC

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

Early Head Start (Birth to 3)

Mark this box when the student received Early Head Start services prior to attending a preschool program. This may include home-based services, center-based services, or both.

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.earlyHeadStart

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.headStart

Reports:

ISBE Demographics and Early Childhood Extract V3

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

IEP Completion Date

Use this field to enter the date on which the student completes their IEP. Only use this field if your district does NOT use the Infinite Campus Special Education Module.

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.completionDateIEP

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.completionDateIEP

Reports:

ISBE Demographics and Early Childhood Extract V3

Reason for Delay in Transition

This field is used to indicate the reason, if any, there was a delay in the child's transition to an Early Childhood Program.

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Database Location:

EarlyLearning.delayTransitionReason

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.delayTransitionReason

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs

Licensed Child Care

Indicates that prior to attending a preschool program, the child was enrolled in Child Care at one of the following:

  • 01: Family Child Care
  • 02: Center Based
  • 03: Did Not Attend

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Database Location:

EarlyLearningPreKProgram.licensedChildCare

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > EarlyLearning > earlyLearning.licensedChildCare

Reports:

ISBE Early Childhood Programs