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Topic

Early Learning

Quality early care and education are critical to prepare California children for school and their lives in general. But a large percentage of children do not have access to high quality early childhood education programs. The coronavirus pandemic has caused financial strife for early learning programs trying to meet health and safety guidelines and keep staff and children safe. But the public health crisis has also illuminated the essential nature of the early learning and care field and reinvigorated hopes to expand preschool access to more children.

Early Learning
March 8, 2023

Are young boys of color set up to fail in early education?

Examining implicit bias, experts say, may be the key to making early education more equitable.

Karen D'Souza
Early Learning
February 10, 2023

The pandemic fueled a public school exodus, study says

Disruptions wrought by the pandemic may be leading the education world toward a watershed moment, some say, a time to rebuild the critical connection between families and schools.

Karen D'Souza
Early Learning
January 19, 2023

Inside the child care crisis: Q&A with a veteran provider

Child care workers want to be recognized as early educators, they say, and not just babysitters.

Karen D'Souza
School Finance
January 18, 2023

The right choices? Leaders, policymakers and experts react to Gov. Newsom's 2022-23 education budget

See what education leaders are saying about the governor’s plan to fund education in the coming year.

EdSource staff
Commentary
January 17, 2023

Reactions to the governor's early education budget proposals

Leaders representing all segments of California’s education system share their reactions to the governor’s 2023-24 January budget proposal for early education.

EdSource staff
California's Reading Dilemma
December 20, 2022

Teaching young children how to read: What California parents need to know

What should parents do if they notice their child is falling behind in reading?

Karen D'Souza
Quick Guides
December 12, 2022

10 things California parents should know about transitional kindergarten | Quick Guide

Many districts are beginning to register new students for the coming year, so now is the time to reach out.

Karen D'Souza
Teacher Voices
November 23, 2022

Why I teach despite profession's modest compensation

Today, teaching is more than just a job; it’s my passion.

Margi Bhansali
Commentary
November 14, 2022

Transitional kindergarten expansion needs wraparound programs to ensure access, quality

Studies show that low-quality care for children under 5 is detrimental to learning outcomes for years following that experience.

Ryan Hazelton and Savitha Moorthy
Child Care
November 7, 2022

Inflation Reduction Act left children and families behind 

Rising costs, the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and demand that exceeds supply have frayed an already fragile child care sector.

Ruth Fernández and Savitha Moorthy
California's Reading Dilemma
November 2, 2022

How badly did the pandemic deepen California's early reading crisis?

The scores may be grim, some say, but they're far from shocking. Some experts warn that cratering test scores warn of a system that was broken long before the pandemic.

Karen D'Souza
Commentary
October 14, 2022

Let's design early education facilities now to meet the challenge of climate change

Children aren't responsible for climate change, but they'll experience the worst of it unless we make sure the places they'll spend growing and learning are prepared to protect them.

Angie Garling, Jeff Vincent, Isabelle Donohoe, and Joe Fretwell
California's Reading Dilemma
October 6, 2022

How a California school is embracing the science of reading and phonics | Video

Watch how one school embraces the science of reading and phonics to teach children to read.

Jennifer Molina
Commentary
September 30, 2022

Let's nurture multilingualism in our youngest learners

Early childhood educators should support and celebrate the cultures, languages and circumstances of the children in their care.

Jonathan Nomachi
California's Reading Dilemma
September 29, 2022

The Right To Read: It took a lawsuit against California

California settled a lawsuit over literacy by giving 70 schools with the lowest 2019 test scores extra funding to teach children to read. Less than half of all third graders in the state scored at grade level in reading.

Karen D'Souza