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EdSource Today reports
Photo credit: Liv Ames, EdSource
The final budget deal struck by lawmakers on Tuesday provides more than $300 million for early education. Advocates say the budget "continues the strong momentum for high-quality early learning in California."

     Photo credit: Sarah Tully, EdSource

 

The state's largest school district is considering expanding its transitional kindergarten to more 4-year-olds--a move that could affect other districts statewide.

 

Los Angeles Unified School District lobbyists are seeking legislation that would change the birthdate required to enter transitional kindergarten--which provides an extra year of schooling for some students--and open the program up to more children at an earlier age.

 

 Read the full story on EdSource Today.
Photo credit: Michael Collier, EdSource

 

Two counties--Marin and Sonoma--have contrasting approaches to funding early education programs that  highlight the efforts of local governments across the state to expand access to preschools.   

 

While one county is using a one-time building fund to renovate and expand preschool classrooms, advocates in another are pressing for a sales tax increase. 

 

Read the full story on EdSource Today. 

KQED
Some California preschools serve young English learners well, but it's tough
Photo credit: Devin Katayama, KQED

This story from KQED's "The California Report" by Devin Katayama looks at the preschool options available for dual-language learners, and new Department of Education guidelines designed to support such programs.

But, as Katayama points out, "The California Department of Education now gives extra money to public school districts with more English learners, but that hasn't been the case for preschool programs - not even those with state subsidies."

 Click here to read more.

Early learning research roundup
New report looks at state and community strategies for improving early childhood services 
Screenshot from the into to the Reading Rainbow TV show which ran on PBS from 1983 to 2006. (c) PBS
A new report from Rachel Herzfeldt-Kamprath and Katie Hamm of the Center for American Progress looks at state and community approaches to providing access to high-quality early childhood programs, from prenatal care to  kindergarten.

The reports finds that public services that target young children often operate in isolation, are underfunded, and fail to meet the needs of all eligible families. The authors cite research to assert that a continuum of services that are intentionally aligned to reach children for as long as possible help children thrive, and increase their chances of positive outcomes later in life.

 

Read more at this link.

 

Fact sheet about California infant and toddlers in childcare
A new fact sheet from Child Trends provides demographic and child care data about the 1.5 million infants and toddlers in California.

"California's Infants and Toddlers: Future Promise, or Missed Opportunities" looks at characteristics of infants and toddlers in subsidized child care, and the types of settings they are in, and finds that there is "little assurance for parents selecting care that a particular setting provides high-quality early learning experiences."

The fact sheet also states that the cost of out-of-home care is "a losing proposition" for many, and provides information about the childcare subsidy system.

Click here for the fact sheet. 

Early Education News Briefs

A coalition of policymakers, business and community leaders launched a new effort to "modernize" the state's early childhood services. Calling itself the  

"Right Start Commission," the group will collaborate on recommendations to improve the state's ability to serve its youngest residents.

 

 

Read or listen to the full story at the KPCC education page

Early education coordinator Sarah B. Smith writes in an Ed Week commentary: "At the end of the early-childhood-education classes I teach, we discuss issues related to professionalism. Recently, this conversation with one of my students took an unexpected turn when she asked me if she was a 'real' teacher."

 

Read the letter in its entirety at Education Week 

An unusual Seattle preschool program called the Intergenerational Learning Center is located within a senior care center and is the subject of an upcoming documentary by filmmaker Evan Briggs.  Preschoolers and elderly residents at the center share activities like music, dancing, and storytelling.

 

Read the full story and watch video at ABC News .

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