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Early Learning
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Preschool

Preschool is any program designed to help 3- and 4-year-old children develop social, emotional and academic skills. Research shows that high-quality preschool programs can have a long-lasting positive effect. There’s an ongoing debate about whether large public programs can achieve the quality necessary to have a similar impact.
May 2, 2018

Educators face new challenges in 'superdiverse' classrooms where multiple languages are spoken

Researchers focused on classrooms where more than five languages are spoken.

Ashley Hopkinson
April 18, 2018

California to get huge boost in child care funds from federal budget

There will be nearly a $2.4 billion increase in funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program.

Louis Freedberg
April 5, 2018

Unlike California, many states have umbrella agency for early childhood programs

California could learn from the experience of other states that have established separate departments or divisions to oversee early childhood programs.

Louis Freedberg
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
March 8, 2018

There are many benefits to starting science education early — very early

Report finds that even infants can learn abstract scientific concepts, and starting early can help them with science later on.

Carolyn Jones
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
November 8, 2017

California moves to curtail expelling children from preschool — yes, preschool

California is part of a national effort to restrict pushing children out of preschool for disruptive behavior.

Lee Romney
July 31, 2017

Summer program teaches key skills to prepare children for kindergarten

A summer program in Oakland aims to make sure that kindergarten students are ready to learn.

Ashley Hopkinson
June 28, 2017

Transitional kindergarten boosts school readiness in math, reading

Researchers found kindergartners who had attended transitional kindergarten are better prepared than those who had attended preschool or had not been in a formal preschool program.

Ashley Hopkinson
June 18, 2017

California to raise income limits to allow more children to qualify for subsidized child care

California has not increased its income eligibility limit for subsidized child care since the 2007-08 fiscal year.

Ashley Hopkinson
May 16, 2017

Gov. Brown's revised budget plan draws mixed response from early education advocates

While early education advocates say they appreciate Gov. Jerry Brown keeping last year’s promise to increase preschool funding, they lamented that the May budget revision didn’t include additional money and changes that would allow more low-income families to qualify for subsidized child care.

Ashley Hopkinson
April 19, 2017

Majority of Californians polled favor vouchers for private schools

However, twice in the past, they overwhelmingly rejected ballot initiatives that would have allowed vouchers.

John Fensterwald
March 28, 2017

Expanding Early Learning Time: Accessing Full-Day Preschool and Kindergarten in California

EdSource staff
March 27, 2017

California still has a way to go in offering 'full-day' preschool

A new EdSource report underscores the benefits for children of attending full-day programs.

Louis Freedberg and Susan Frey
February 15, 2017

EdSource poll: Child care and preschool costs force parents to make difficult tradeoffs

Nearly half of families with young children say a parent left the job market to address child care needs.

Louis Freedberg