History of EPEL

In 2011, community leaders met at a coffee shop to discuss what the design of an early childhood community collaboration of public and private partnership would look like to improve the journey of our youngest learners in becoming prepared for Kindergarten.

In 2012, the Elgin Partnership for Early Learning (EPEL) was formed as an early childhood community collaboration to ensure the healthy growth and optimal development of young children in the context of their families through local systems development. Community partners committed to take action by giving up individual agendas and adopting an approach called Collective Impact, which leverages its partners’ commitment and contributions to improve local early childhood resources and sustainable outcomes. The collaborative work brings together early childhood care and education providers, community-based organizations, education, government, health care, social services, and a broad array of community stakeholders. 

In 2021, EPEL rebranded, and adopted a new logo to symbolize the mission and vision of children and families in the center of the work with overlapping circles that signify the cross-sector systems of support.

In 2022, Elgin Partnership for Early Learning filed for 501(c)(3) not for profit status.

A connected community plan provides a map for creating a coordinated, high-quality early childhood system that supports all of our community’s youngest children and their families, working towards narrowing the achievement gap as they enter Kindergarten.