All 15 U-46 preschools earn state recognition for quality

All 15 Elgin Area School District U-46 preschool sites that served students during the 2025-26 school year have earned a Gold or Silver Circle of Quality from the Illinois Department of Early Childhood, recognizing the district’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality early learning opportunities.

The state recognition gives families important information about the quality of preschool programs in their community. U-46’s Early Learner Initiatives department serves nearly 1,600 children each year, helping build the academic and social-emotional foundations that prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.

Building on that commitment, U-46 expanded preschool programming from 15 to 26 sites for the current 2026-27 school year, bringing early learning opportunities into more neighborhood schools. The expansion makes preschool more convenient for families and helps children and caregivers build relationships with their future school communities before kindergarten begins.

The state recognition adds to a year of honors for the Early Learner Initiatives department, which also won in the “Creating a Difference” category at the annual Elgin Image Awards on Oct. 20.

The team was praised for expanding the district’s preschool sites into neighborhood schools, championing educational equity, and helping area families through developmental screenings and robust caregiver support. These efforts support the district’s strategic plan goal of building early academic and social-emotional foundations for the community’s youngest learners.

“The lasting legacy of the Early Learner Initiatives team will be measured in generations,” said U-46’s Deputy Superintendent Lela Majstorovic. “By giving children a positive start to their educational journey, the team helps cultivate the confidence, curiosity, and love of learning that can support them throughout school and into adulthood. When the community invests in its youngest learners, it invests in the region's future strength and success.”

The Image Awards recognize outstanding individuals, businesses, and organizations making a powerful difference in Elgin. Awards are presented by the Enhancing Elgin Committee and organized by the Elgin Development Group and the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce.

“The Maasai people in Africa greet one another with the phrase ‘and how are the children,’ and the standard reply is ‘the children are all well,’” said Early Learner Initiatives Director Katie Cox, who accepted the Elgin Image Award on behalf of her team. “This exchange reflects that the community’s priorities are properly maintained. I assure you that in Elgin, we will continue to work hard to ensure that all the children are well and thriving.”

Families interested in learning more about U-46’s free preschool options should visit u-46.org/preschool.