Our mission is to expand access to effective early learning programs, starting with those that need it most.

Early childhood education is a proven investment in school success.  When children have access to early learning programs with expert teachers, they start school with a solid foundation for learning, schools can better do their job, and all of California benefits.

Since our inception in 2003, we have been working on the following four fronts to build the public and political will to make this vision a reality.

1. Outreach and Collaboration
We continue to build a broad base of supporters reflective of California’s great strength and diversity. Reflecting early learning's broad benefits to many segments of society, we are joined in our vision by supporters from K-12 education, business, law enforcement, early care and education providers, women’s groups, communities of color, organized labor and other sectors. Visit our Supporters page to learn more.

2. Policy Development
In partnership with Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California, Children Now and other pre-k partners, we seek out policy expertise and best practices to lay a foundation for expanding preschool opportunity. Statewide, we convene roundtables, regional events, community leader forums, and focus groups. We use these and other forums to listen to and learn from parents, early care and education, preschool and K-12 teachers and preschool administrators.

Nationally, we collaborate with organizations such as Pre-K Now and with advocates in other states to share research, develop effective strategies, promote the national preschool expansion movement, and discuss policy solutions to such critical issues as funding and workforce development. We also help develop, monitor and analyze statewide preschool initiatives and bills in the state Legislature, such as AB 172 (Chan), which was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in September 2006.  In 2007, we co-sponsored three preschool bills with Children Now and Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California.

3. Communications
We work to increase public understanding of the need for high-quality early learning opportunities for California's youngest learners. We research effective messages for the early learning campaign, recruit influential spokespeople and develop materials for use by our partners. Read our groundbreaking 2004 report, Kids Can’t Wait to Learn (pdf) and our 2005 report, Praise for Preschool (pdf). We communicate regularly with a list of over 8,000 preschool supporters statewide, providing timely news bulletins and action opportunities.

Join our email list. 

Visit our Media Center to see recent coverage and resources available to print and electronic journalists covering preschool.

4. Policymaker Education
We educate and engage policymakers with a focus on state legislators. We have hosted several events in Sacramento, including advocacy days, legislative briefings, and informational hearings.  Our Advocate works with our partners to engage policymakers at the State Capitol in our campaign to expand early learning opportunities for California children.