Under the agreement, all 4-year-olds living in low-income neighborhoods would be eligible for state-subsidized preschool, with priority for low-income children first.
The report sets a long-term goal of preschool for all children, regardless of income, but focuses on expanding access first to children in low-income families.
The California Assembly Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education released its long-anticipated draft report for how to improve child care and preschool throughout the state.
Only 1 out of 9 children eligible for subsidized childcare programs in California were enrolled in a program that provided full-day, year-round care in 2017, according to an analysis by the California Budget and Policy Center.
The budget proposal is expected to significantly expand paid family leave, home visits to help parents teach and care for their babies and screenings to identify delays early.
Local libraries help parents to learn early literacy skills through storytime. Children's librarians say storytime is one of the best ways to cultivate a young child's interest in books and encourage lifelong reading.
A national study on the early childhood education workforce found that many child care workers are struggling to support their families on low wages and that policies and resources fail to address the economic well-being of those who teach infants and toddlers.
