What We’re Doing

The Basics Illinois Network formed in May 2021

as a response to the growing number of Illinois communities expressing interest in The Basics as a way to support families with young children around school readiness and lifelong success.

Driving this statewide network is the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education (ROE). The DeKalb ROE is the backbone organization for the DeKalb County Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative and adopted The Basics locally in 2018.

How

Basics DeKalb County is part of the DeKalb County Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative, a regional early learning initiative to collectively build capacity, coherence and impact to better prepare its youngest residents for school. Basics DeKalb serves 8 school districts, several private schools, and works across 15 municipalities.

Result

In the past year, Basics DeKalb County has reached 3,574 children, held 85 events, and collaborated with 33 organizations to promote the Basics.

Other efforts include a partnership with the county health department to distribute Basics information during drive-thru WIC appointments and outreach via diaper distributions and mobile food pantries.

Now, The Basics Illinois Network meets monthly

Sharing inspiration and strategies, as well as implementation support. The Basics Illinois Network welcomes any community interested in implementing the Basics.

Join the Network

Support for Basics Illinois Network members comes from local leadership of the DeKalb ROE, in partnership with the Basics Learning Network and Basics, Inc. The DeKalb Community Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation provide philanthropic support.