Universal Preschool

April 29, 2019

Bolstering California’s increased focus on early childhood, statewide commission releases final recommendations

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.

Zaidee Stavely

April 17, 2019

California lags behind other states in quality and access to state-funded preschool

California was ranked 14th in access to preschool for 4-year-olds, behind Oklahoma, Vermont, Florida, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Georgia and South Carolina, among other states.

Zaidee Stavely

March 14, 2019

Gov. Newsom's early childhood advisor describes 'whole-child, whole-family, whole-community' strategy

Giannina Pérez previously worked for Early Edge California and Children Now, both well-known children’s advocacy organizations. As an advocate, she worked to expand training for early childhood educators to better support children who speak languages other than English at home.

Zaidee Stavely

March 5, 2019

California gets boost from federal government to expand early learning

The state will use a $10.6 million grant to identify gaps in early learning services for children from birth to age 5 and decide on steps to meet those needs.

Zaidee Stavely

January 7, 2019

Gov. Newsom wants universal preschool for low-income children in California to be phased in over three years

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.

Louis Freedberg

December 13, 2018

What California can learn from universal preschool in other states

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.

Zaidee Stavely

December 12, 2018

Californians want tuition-free community college to be priority for Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom

Just over half of voters said free community college tuition should be a high or very high priority for new state funding, new poll finds.

Nico Savidge

December 11, 2018

In push for universal preschool, lessons to heed from California's class size reduction program

The $1 billion program was implemented in less than two months.

Louis Freedberg

December 4, 2018

New push underway to expand preschool for low-income children in California

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.

Zaidee Stavely

May 30, 2018

California governor’s race: Dems agree on child care, higher spending; differ on districts rejecting charters based on financial impact

The candidates differ on how they would work toward their goals to improve education in California.

Nico Savidge

May 9, 2018

Gubernatorial debate includes pledges for universal preschool from Democrats

In contrast, the Republican candidates oppose providing state-subsidized preschool for all California 4-year-olds.

Nico Savidge

April 4, 2018

Facing unprepared kindergartners, a rural school district restores preschool for all

This school year the Lindsay Unified School District, in a small farming community in Tulare County, implemented universal preschool, meaning every child from birth to 4 years old, regardless of family income, can attend a program in the district for free.

Ashley Hopkinson

February 22, 2018

Single state agency needed to coordinate California's 'patchwork' of early childhood education programs, new report urges 

Establishing one lead agency will help coordinate the state's often confusing array of child care and preschool programs, researchers say in a new report examining California's early childhood education system.

Ashley Hopkinson

November 20, 2017

Leading Democratic candidates for California governor back universal preschool

Next California governor is likely to be a strong advocate for the expansion of early education programs.

Louis Freedberg And Ashley Hopkinson

June 5, 2016

With costs unclear, Clinton lays out ambitious plans for early education

Hillary Clinton's plans would reshape the landscape of early childhood education.

Jeremy Hay