A transition team document says Newsom's proposed budget for the next fiscal year will call for $1.8 billion for kindergarten, child care and child development programs, although more details are expected when he releases his proposed budget later this week.
Some states have successfully expanded both access and the quality of their preschool programs. Here’s what some early learning advocates and researchers say California could learn from them.
Assemblyman Kevin McCarty introduced three bills this week, one to expand spaces for public preschool for low-income 4-year-olds, one to improve preschool facilities and one to increase reimbursement for preschool programs.
Preschool Counts, a program piloted by Stanford University in 2013, is boosting early math skills by pairing undergraduate students with preschoolers to practice math through games and other activities.
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.
A national survey reveals that many teachers support a unified preschool and K-3 system and also believe higher wages and professional preparation are key to keeping teachers in the classroom.
In a national report that measures access, quality and investment in public preschool programs, California ranks high for the number of 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds enrolled in programs, but low on quality standards.
The Silicon Valley Community Foundation-initiated campaign hopes the next governor will focus on children beginning at birth, and implement child-friendly programs within the first 100 days.
California could learn from the experience of other states that have established separate departments or divisions to oversee early childhood programs.
