A newly launched pre-K program in North Chicago offers services in an “early childhood desert,” school officials say, with Learn Network opening its Naval Station Great Lakes campus to 3- and 4-year-old students.
The program is an expansion of the existing Learn 6 charter school in North Chicago, operated by Learn Early Childhood Center — Great Lakes, an affiliate of the Learn Network.
According to an Illinois State Board of Education representative, the Learn Early Childhood Center is funded by the ISBE’s Early Childhood Block Grant, which aims to expand access to early childhood education in communities identified as high-need.
Learn already operates a pre-K program at its Waukegan campus. The new North Chicago program, which started earlier this month, opened with four new classrooms and has about 80 students. That includes students from their Waukegan location, a release said, who had been on waitlists.
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The ISBE has identified several Lake County school districts, including Waukegan District 60, as “early childhood deserts,” where there is a dearth of care options for eligible children.
Shanice Moore is a family support specialist with Learn whose three children, including now her youngest daughter Onyx, go to Learn 6. She said the program is aimed towards helping “unfortunate” families, giving them stability and their kids a chance to safely learn.
“It’s given my children a place to be all in one spot,” Moore said. “It’s also definitely family-based. It’s pretty tight.”
State Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, in a statement, called the program a “game-changer” for North Chicago families.
“For too long, access to quality early childhood education has been a significant barrier for many parents, impacting everything from workforce participation to long-term economic stability,” she said. “This program not only fills a critical void but also invests directly in the future success of our youngest residents and, by extension, our entire community.”
Greg White, president and CEO of Learn, said the pre-K program is “laying the foundation for future academic success.”
“With two instructors in each classroom and extended learning time, the program supports both the academic and emotional development of every child, ensuring they are well-prepared for kindergarten and beyond.”
Rene Rodriguez, director of early childhood at Learn, said the program is designed to, “meet a real need in the community” and bring families into their school system earlier.
“At the same time, we’re working closely with staff and school leaders to ensure that the transition supports everyone — students, teachers, and families — creating a seamless and nurturing environment,” Rodriguez said.
The ISBE’s report on early childhood deserts shows “clear demand and need” for such services, Rodriguez said, and exposing children to school earlier has “inherent advantages.”
Learn is a charter school network with more than a dozen schools primarily based in the Chicago area, and one location in Washington, D.C. It operates two public charter schools in North Chicago.