2007 Legislation

Legislation sponsored by Preschool California:

• AB 571 (Jones) [fact sheet] [text] [status]: Expanding Effective Preschool
  As originally introduced, the bill directs the state to offer voluntary, effective preschool to all low-income three- and four-year-olds, with a priority on four-year-olds, by 2011-12.  The Legislative Analyst’s Office forecasts an increase in Prop 98 funding over the next five years, and recommends that a significant portion of that increase should be invested in preschool for all low-income children.
  
  
• SB 944 (Padilla) [fact sheet] [text] [status]: Preschool and Child Development Data Reporting
  As originally introduced, the bill requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to collect, aggregate, and report to the legislature data regarding state-subsidized child development programs, including state preschool. The goal of the bill is to provide guidance to policymakers in future efforts to expand and improve the state’s preschool delivery system.
  
  
• AB 1059 (DeLeon) [fact sheet] [text] [status]: Financial Aid Opportunities for Preschool and Child Care Educators
  As originally introduced, the bill Expands existing professional development programs and creates new financial incentives to attract and retain educators in the early care and education field.  This expansion would focus on publicly funded sites located in low-performing school areas in an effort to address the achievement gap.

Other important preschool legislation supported by Preschool California:

• AB 1236 (Mullin) [fact sheet] [text] [status]: Kindergarten Date Change and Kindergarten Readiness Program
  
  
• AB 1052 (Toricco) [text] [status]: Demonstration Program Proving ELL Training for Pre-Kindergarten Teachers

2006 Legislation

AB 172 (Chan) implemented Governor Schwarzenegger's May 2006 proposal to invest $50 million to increase preschool enrollment in programs located in the attendance areas of low-performing elementary schools.  It also funds an important new family literacy component designed to teach parents the skills needed to help their children succeed in preschool and beyond.  In addition to the $50 million in preschool program expansion, $50 million dollars in one-time funds for preschool facilities was included in the final budget for fiscal year 2006-2007.  Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 172 at a Los Angeles preschool on September 7, 2006.  Watch the video clip and read the governor's press release. Read Preschool California's press statement (pdf).

2004 Legislation

AB 712: Passed by the California Assembly and Senate on August 27, 2004 and later vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger, AB 712 created a comprehensive workforce development plan and a study of the cost of providing voluntary preschool opportunity to all California 4 year olds.
Read a summary of the bill
Read Schwarzenegger’s veto message 

For information on other statewide, local, and national efforts including past legislation, First 5 California, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s commitment to preschool for California children, visit our Preschool Momentum section.