Expanding Early Learning Time:


Accessing Full-Day Preschool and Kindergarten in California

Published on March 28, 2017

The California Legislature has made providing full-day preschool and kindergarten a priority for California children. Yet large numbers of low-income 3- and 4-year-olds still attend part-day, state-subsidized preschool, according to a new EdSource report. Similarly, large numbers of children attend half-day kindergarten, despite significant progress toward full-day kindergarten over the past decade.

Children who attend high-quality, full-day preschool and kindergarten programs show improved academic outcomes, and make larger developmental and social-emotional gains than children who attend part-day programs, at least in the short term, according to education research. Yet California’s current funding system encourages part-day, rather than full-day, programs.

Read the complete report about how California is meeting – or should meet – the full-day challenge in the document below.