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EXPLORE: REMOTE'S IMPACT ON THE YOUNGESTQuick Guides
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.

English Learners
September 24, 2021

Why phonics instruction is not enough for English learners

While other students already know the words they are sounding out, English learners may be learning to sound out words they don’t understand.

Zaidee Stavely
Literacy
September 22, 2021

State superintendent sets goal to get all California third graders reading by 2026

State officials eye legislation aimed at addressing the longstanding issue of struggling early readers.

Ali Tadayon
Learning Well: Beyond the Pandemic
September 17, 2021

Pandemic effects may have lowered baby IQs, study says

New research says less stimulation, stress on parents during Covid pandemic may factor into average 22-point IQ drop among babies.

Karen D'Souza
Transitional Kindergarten
September 1, 2021

Should all school districts be required to offer transitional kindergarten?

Parent advocates: Early-education programs such as transitional kindergarten can shrink the California achievement gap.

Karen D'Souza
Learning Well: Beyond the Pandemic
August 18, 2021

What impact will the pandemic have on early literacy? 

Experts share insights on how parents and teachers can help kids — especially those who may be behind — learn to read as they go back to school.

Karen D'Souza
Remote's impact on the youngest
August 7, 2021

How going remote led to dramatic drops in public school students 

Kindergarten students nationwide and in California became the biggest group to opt out of remote-only schooling during the pandemic.

Karen D'Souza And Daniel J. Willis
Remote's impact on the youngest
August 7, 2021

If you feel your child is not ready for first grade due to the pandemic

A new state law addresses the reality this fall for many families: Their child missed kindergarten because of the pandemic. Should they move on to first grade? Parents are entitled to information on the pros and cons.

Karen D'Souza
Transitional Kindergarten
July 12, 2021

How California’s new universal transitional kindergarten program will be rolled out

Experts say making a year of pre-kindergarten available to all 4-year-olds is a watershed achievement in the early education space.

Karen D'Souza
Commentary
July 8, 2021

The ‘stars aligned’ in budget deal, but hurdles remain for early education

This is much work still to be done to ensure the pre-K entitlement will narrow, rather than reinforce, gaps in children’s early learning.

Bruce Fuller
School Finance
June 29, 2021

Post-Covid California state budget with record spending on education heads to Gov. Newsom

College savings accounts, universal transitional kindergarten, new community schools, teacher recruitment incentives are a signature away.

EdSource staff
Transitional Kindergarten
June 17, 2021

Why some early childhood advocates want more transitional kindergarten choices

A California TK proposal would gradually open the program to all 4-year-olds amid evidence that early learning shapes the adult brain.

Karen D'Souza
K-3 Grades
June 11, 2021

LA Unified expands early literacy program

An early literacy program launched as a pilot with 2,500 students has proved successful enough to expand to 14,000 students in coming months.

Betty Márquez Rosales
Commentary
June 10, 2021

Transitional kindergarten for all would hurt early education providers

A "mixed delivery" system, in which state-funded early learning programs can be in any school, would better serve the needs of families.

Christopher Maricle & Teri Davies
Commentary
June 7, 2021

Districts should focus on finding California’s missing kindergartners, especially English learners

English learners who did not connect, or connected minimally, during this year of distance learning need a renewed commitment that school will be a place full of rich language, wonderment and engagement in literacy and learning.

Martha Hernandez and Anya Hurwitz
Early Learning
June 2, 2021

More help for struggling California child care sector

In the wake of the pandemic, child care providers have emerged as the backbone of the state’s economic recovery.

Karen D'Souza