Liandro Gm Arellano, Illinois State Senator for the 37th District, said on April 14 that 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. The statement was made in a Facebook post during the national Week of the Young Child observance and referenced a partnership organized by Birth to Five Illinois Region 28 in his district to engage local businesses with early learning support, according to Arellano’s Facebook post.
The topic is significant as access to quality early childhood education remains limited in many rural areas. Illinois Action for Children reported that child care supply in rural counties including Bureau, Henry, and Stark remains limited with licensed providers reaching only about one third of children ages zero to five. Many families in these areas face long waitlists for quality programs while local business partnerships help expand access through community engagement.
Arellano said, “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,” according to 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 previously served as mayor of Dixon and owns a small business. Elected as a Republican in 2025, he represents portions of northern and western Illinois and focuses on economic development and constituent services in his district, according to information from the Illinois General Assembly.
