For the first time in California, thousands of early-learning centers across the state, from preschools to licensed child-care centers and homes, are in the process of implementing a common system to rate the quality of their programs.
Early childhood workers, such as day care providers and preschool teachers, have not seen substantial increases in wages in the past 25 years, though expectations for their educational attainment have increased.
Backed by a new report from his Council of Economic Advisers, President Barack Obama is framing his push for universal preschool and early education as an economic issue that will yield extraordinary financial benefits not only to children and parents, but to the nation as a whole.
Making a case that strong early education is vital for both personal and national prosperity, President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced a package of more than $1 billion in federal and private funding to expand preschool and other early childhood programs across the United States.
