Liandro “Li” Arellano Jr., Illinois State Senator for the 37th District, said on April 14 that local businesses and organizations are working together to ‘offer a week of special deals to recognize the Week of the Young Child.’ The statement highlights coordinated efforts in western Illinois to support early childhood education during the annual national observance.
The focus on early learning comes as rural counties such as Bureau, Henry, and Stark face ongoing challenges with child care access. According to Illinois Action for Children, child care supply in these areas remains limited, with licensed providers reaching only about one third of children ages zero to five. Many families encounter long waitlists for quality programs, while local business partnerships help expand access through community engagement.
Arellano made his remarks in a Facebook post during the national Week of the Young Child observance. The post referenced a partnership organized by Birth to Five Illinois Region 28 in his district to engage local businesses with early learning support.
‘Each April the National Association for the Education of Young Children invites educators, families, and communities to celebrate the Week of the Young Child. Birth to Five Illinois Region 28 has partnered with locally owned establishments to offer a week of special deals to recognize the Week of the Young Child across Bureau Henry and Stark counties. Please offer your support by sharing the attached flyer if you’re in the region,’ Arellano said in his Facebook post.
The National Institute for Early Education Research said that Illinois served over 82,000 children in state-funded preschool programs with annual spending exceeding 500 million dollars. Enrollment rates have grown steadily, but gaps persist in rural and western regions where access to high-quality early education varies by county.
Arellano, a Republican, was elected to represent Illinois’ 37th Senate District in 2025 after previously serving as mayor of Dixon and owning a small business. He focuses on economic development and constituent services in northern and western Illinois.
