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Early Learning
Topic

K-3 Grades

Early elementary education focuses on students in kindergarten through 3rd grade. Experts say this group deserves special consideration as they develop the skills in reading, writing and math that they’ll need to succeed in middle and high school.

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
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
Bilingual Education
June 1, 2021

California bilingual programs ready to grow after slowing during pandemic

Some school districts were forced to pause their expansion plans for new dual language immersion programs due to the pandemic.

Zaidee Stavely And Betty Márquez Rosales
College & Careers
May 20, 2021

L.A. Unified to launch nation’s largest district college savings account program

L.A. Unified will launch a college savings account program, Opportunity L.A, on Friday for over 13,000 first grade students. All remaining first graders will have their own savings account by the end of 2021.

Betty Márquez Rosales
Commentary
April 20, 2021

Recovering from the pandemic by investing in our earliest learners

Universal high-quality preschool for three- and four-year-olds is a proven way to reduce the opportunity gap, lift families out of poverty, and stimulate the local economy.

Kelly Gonez
Los Angeles Unified
April 13, 2021

Los Angeles Unified reopens for in-person learning

Los Angeles Unified, the state's largest district, reopened for in-person learning amid ongoing lawsuits from parents pushing for a full reopening.

Betty Márquez Rosales
Early Learning
March 24, 2021

What are California teachers seeing as the early grades go back to school?

After being apart from each other for so long, children may need to be retrained on how to socialize before they can be ready to learn. 

Karen D'Souza
Early Learning
March 3, 2021

Should kindergarten be mandatory in California? 

Without kindergarten to help build critical skills in reading and math, some students may fall behind.

Karen D'Souza
Early Learning
February 18, 2021

How will expanded transitional kindergarten roll out?

Early childhood advocates applaud any increase in access to early education, which many see as critical to closing achievement gaps.

Karen D'Souza
Distance Learning
February 9, 2021

California teachers grapple with grading nearly a year after initial school closures

Many districts are seeing surges in Fs and Ds during distance learning, prompting a revision of expectations and policies around grades.

Sydney Johnson
Early Learning
January 28, 2021

What happens to children who missed kindergarten during Covid-19 crisis?

While many students have likely suffered learning loss during the global health crisis, it may have a greater impact on incoming first-graders.

Karen D'Souza
Early Learning
January 19, 2021

How one California preschool program is helping youngest learners with math

A state-funded program is designing strategies for families to keep kids learning at home even when in-person preschool is canceled.

Sydney Johnson
Early Learning
November 11, 2020

Why Los Angeles County’s neediest school districts don't apply for waivers to reopen campuses

The waiver process has been fraught with debate — raising issues of safety, volatility and fairness.

Karen D'Souza And Betty Márquez Rosales
Bilingual Education
November 6, 2020

How California teachers are making bilingual education work online

With most instruction now remote and with less class time, students don’t spend as much time exposed to their new language.

Zaidee Stavely
Early Learning
October 23, 2020

LA schools define early learners as ‘high-needs’ to bring them back to campus

Schools in Los Angeles have begun in-person instruction with their youngest learners, under the county’s reopening allowance for students with special needs.

Karen D'Souza And Betty Márquez Rosales