“I characterize it as a Valentine’s Day love letter to young children, to families, to educators, to caregivers.”

That is how State Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (pictured) (D-Chicago) sums up Gov. JB Pritzker’s State of the State and budget message Wednesday. She also invoked the phrase “it takes a village” in describing the goals of helping children in what experts say are the most important years for brain development – ages zero to five.

The governor stopped at the Early Learning Center in Springfield Thursday morning to kick off a post-speech tour.

Even a well-regarded program such as the one Springfield Public Schools runs has room for improvement. “I was just talking to the folks here,” said Gov. Pritzker in a da-after-State of the State appearance, “that although there are 700 kids for programs here for three- and four-year-olds, there’s a waiting list of more than 120 people. So that’s a desert for someone who can’t get early childhood programs for their three- and four-year olds. That is a desert.”

The governor’s proposed budget expands access to the programs, including building new facilities.