Smart Start Illinois is a multiyear plan to provide every child with access to preschool, increase funding to child care providers to raise wages and quality, and reach more vulnerable families with early support. Launched with a $300 million investment in the fiscal year 2024 state budget, Smart Start Illinois has already yielded results. The Illinois State Board of Education administers the Early Childhood Block Grant, which has three components: half-day preschool, full-day preschool, and intervention services for parents and children prenatal to age 3. The inaugural year of Smart Start allocated $75 million to the Early Childhood Block Grant and resulted in the creation of additional preschool capacity to serve over 5,800 children. Additional investments have stabilized child care providers, raised wages for child care workers, and expanded early intervention services. Despite Illinois ranking eighth in the nation for preschool enrollment, there are still regions with insufficient numbers of publicly funded preschool seats, leaving thousands of families without access. Illinois's ultimate goal is to create 20,000 new pre-K spots, which will ensure universal access for all 3- and 4-year-olds and completely eliminate the state's "preschool deserts."