Los Angeles Unified School District unveils new transition kindergarten program. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will create an innovative, new transition kindergarten pilot program, scheduled to begin in September 2010. The voluntary pilot program is intended to boost the academic success of the district’s youngest kindergarteners by providing them with a year of preparation before entering kindergarten. Read LAUSD’s press release. Read Preschool California’s statement about the pilot.

Early learning and development receives a C grade in newly released report card. The report, released Jan. 4 by Children Now, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, highlights the poor education and health status of the state’s children. [more]

Need for affordable, quality child care surpasses supply, according to new report. A new statewide report released by the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network includes county-by-county data documenting the demand and supply of child care. [more]

Report discusses lessons drawn from New Jersey’s PreK-3rd reform efforts. The New America Foundation issued a new report in December, describing how New Jersey has become a national leader in early childhood education and Pre-K to 3rd. [more]

Index highlights a decade of improvement in California children’s health and well-being. A new index, based on data from www.kidsdata.org, shows child well-being has consistently improved over the last decade.  [more]

Save the Date: Sacramento ELQIS Town Hall, Feb. 3. Members of the Early Learning Quality Improvement System Advisory Committee will engage education leaders, preschool providers, community organizations and early care and education advocates on the Early Learning Quality Improvement System. [more]

Policymakers visit preschools around the state. Assemblymembers observe firsthand how high-quality early learning programs prepare children to succeed in school.

• Congressman Adam Schiff visited the Altadena Christian Children's Center in Altadena on Dec. 18. See photos.
• Assemblymember Marty Block visited the Southwestern College Child Development Center in Chula Vista on Dec. 15. See photos.

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