Topic

Early Learning

Quality early care and education is critical to prepare all California children for school, but a large percentage of children 0-4 do not attend licensed early childhood education programs, largely because of a lack of space. The state has begun restoring preschool and child care slots eliminated during the recession, and investing more in full-day programs. Early childhood advocates, parents, and providers are eagerly awaiting what reforms may occur under Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, who has said he is committed to expanding early childhood education.

March 19, 2019

New training for California preschool teachers to help bilingual children prepare for kindergarten

The trainings teach preschool teachers how to help children learn English and keep their home languages, so they can be more successful in kindergarten and beyond.

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 8, 2019

Increasing subsidized child care and pay for providers crucial for California, report says

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.

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

February 7, 2019

Only a fraction of California children eligible receive subsidized child care

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.

Zaidee Stavely

January 29, 2019

Quality must be at the heart of expanding early childhood education in California

While access has to early childhood education has improved, quality still varies across the state.

Meera Mani

January 11, 2019

Just days into governorship, Newsom a master of complexities of California budget

After years in the shadows as lieutenant governor, Newsom is back in his element shaping and making policy, this time not for one city but for the most populous state in the nation.

Louis Freedberg

January 9, 2019

Gov. Newsom proposing to expand services for babies and toddlers

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.

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 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

November 19, 2018

Preschoolers take on math with the help of college students

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.

Ashley Hopkinson

November 7, 2018

Newsom's cradle-to-career plan for education is ambitious — and expensive

An EdSource estimate finds that the governor-elect's education promises could add up to billions of dollars.

Karin Fischer

October 30, 2018

Building relationships with preschool parents, one conversation at a time

To help preschoolers who are learning to speak in more than one language, one California school district is focusing on parent engagement through in-person interviews that are boosting parent participation in class activities.