"Every child has a right to attend a quality preschool program before entering kindergarten. The research is abundantly clear about the immediate and long-term effects that are associated with high quality preschool programs. This includes lasting successes for the child, family, and our economy. Prioritizing expansion is a matter of equity and will allow all to reap the benefits of a strong early learning foundation."
Dean Tagawa, Ed.D.
Executive Director, Early Education
Los Angeles Unified School District
California should build one unified system of state-funded preschool for three-year-olds and four-year-olds, with the goals that all four-year-olds have access to a year of free and universally available preschool and that all three-year-olds in income-eligible families and children with disabilities have access to an additional year of publicly funded preschool, with economic incentives for all families to enroll. California has an opportunity to build on its strong start toward achieving universal preschool with its investments in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and preschool options offered by family child care homes and centers that meet comparable standards. All of this should be done while strengthening quality standards and ensuring that the needs income-eligible working parents are met through extended-day child care where necessary.
Research shows the significant benefits of preschool on long-term learning outcomes. In recent years, California has made significant gains in expanding care and learning options for income-eligible four-years olds and is ready to expand this opportunity to all four-year olds and income eligible three-year olds as funding permits.
