2010

February 25

Early Learning Programs Included in LAUSD Public School Choice Applications 

January 12
Innovative New Pilot Will Allow More Children to Enter Kindergarten Ready to Succeed

2009

November 9
Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Executive Order Creating California State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care

May 27
California Must Increase Access, Improve Quality, Build Stronger Preschool System
[En Español]

February 13
Economic Recovery Package Includes Significant Early Childhood Education Investments

2008

June 18
California Children Who Could Benefit Most are Least Likely to be in Quality Preschool
[En Español]

April 8
State Should Maintain Funding Commitment to Child Development

2007

November 8
Effective pre-k programs narrow K-12 achievement gap: New RAND research shows gaps in kindergarten readiness (pdf)
[En Espanol]

August 24
Governor Signs Final State Budget: No New Money for Pre-kindergarten

May 14
Governor’s May Revision Includes Additional $50 Million for Preschool (pdf)
In his 2007-08 May Budget Revision, Governor Schwarzenegger proposes a $50 million increase in California’s preschool programs for the children who need it most. This investment is in addition to last year’s $50 million in new funds that Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature approved for preschool with the passage of Assembly Bill 172.

January 11:
Preschool California Issues Statement Regarding Governor's 2007 Budget
“Governor Schwarzenegger this week in his State of the State address said, ‘That small child with the sticky hands starting the first day of kindergarten is the foundation of California’s economic power and leadership.’ We couldn’t agree more."

2006

September 7:
Governor Signs Preschool Bill: First Step in Expanding Preschool Opportunity for California Children
"We appreciate Governor Schwarzenegger's timely leadership in assuring that the state budget includes some resources to get us started in bringing quality programs to the California kids and schools that need it most."

August 31:
California Senate, Assembly Pass $50 Million Bill for Preschool
"The passage of AB 172 (Chan) yesterday out of both houses of the Legislature is a victory for California's at-risk children, their families, and their struggling schools.

May 10:
Preschool for All Will Help More Kids Become Strong Readers in Elementary School
That research is highlighted in a new report, Building Blocks of Reading, released today by the non-profit, nonpartisan Preschool California.

2005

November 15:
Kindergarten Teachers Near Unanimous in Support for Preschool
More than 9 out of 10 kindergarten teachers in California say it is important for children to go to preschool before they start kindergarten, according to a new statewide poll of California public school kindergarten teachers.

September 13:
National Study Raises Alarm about Declining Preschool Teacher Qualifications and Low Pay
Preschool California issued the following response to the Economic Policy Institute report: Losing Ground in Early Childhood Education. The report uses U.S. Census and Current Population Survey (CPS) data to show that since the early 1980’s, qualifications and pay for those who teach young children have steadily declined.

Aug. 31:
Preschool Advocates Converge on Capitol 
Film director and children’s advocate Rob Reiner today joined an influential group of California business, education and labor leaders and 450 preschool advocates at the Sacramento Convention Center for a back-to-school rally supporting greater public investment in preschool opportunity for all.

May 16:
Expelled from preschool: National study highlights lack of adequate preschool funding in California
“This study carries two important lessons for California. The first is that the few public preschool programs offered in California aren’t funded well enough to provide the training and professional support teachers need to identify and manage children with behavior problems. California funds public preschool at half the rate of kindergarten.”

April 19:
Rob Reiner Leads Coalition to File Preschool for All Initiative
Children’s Advocate Rob Reiner and a broad-based coalition of business, labor and education leaders today announced they will file a June 2006 ballot initiative to offer quality preschool programs for all California 4-year-olds whose parents choose to enroll them.

2004

Nov. 18:
From Preschool to Prosperity: Researchers Report Big Benefits from Quality Preschool
The nation’s most respected long-term study of the effects of quality preschool has documented dramatic benefits to children, society and the economy, offering a powerful lesson for California, which lags the nation in preschool enrollment. Researchers calculated that the Perry Preschool program has returned more than a quarter of a million dollars to the public, per child, on an initial investment of $15,000 per child. The study followed the children from their preschool years to age 40.

August 4:
California Children Left Out of Preschool: Local, State and National Leaders Converge on Capitol To Call for Preschool for All 4-year-olds StatewideAn influential group of national experts and California education, business and law enforcement leaders gathered today at a preschool near the state Capitol to say that California can no longer afford to allow hundreds of thousands of children to start school each year without solid preparation for success in school.

May 20:
Sacramento Children Left Out of Preschool: High Profile Regional Leaders Convene Forum on Benefits and Public Demand for Preschool for All
Education, law enforcement and local government leaders gathered today at California State University, Sacramento, to call attention to the alarmingly low number of Sacramento area children who are enrolled in preschool programs.

May 13:
Advisory: Community Leaders Call for Preschool for All 4-year-olds: New Data Show Fewer Than Half of Riverside County Children Enroll
As many as 100 leaders from diverse sectors including education, business, and law enforcement convened a special community leader forum on Thursday, May 13, to discuss the critical need and public demand for more quality preschool programs for Riverside County children and their families.

May 11:
Advisory: Community Leaders Call for Preschool for All 4-year-olds: New Data Show Fewer Than Half of Orange County Children Enrolled
As many as 100 leaders from diverse sectors including education, business, and law enforcement convened a special community leader forum on Tuesday, May 11, to discuss the critical need and public demand for more quality preschool programs for Orange County children and their families.

May 4:
San Diego Children Left Out of Preschool: High Profile Regional Leaders Convene Forum on Benefits of and Public Demand for Preschool for All
An influential group of education, law enforcement and business leaders gathered today at the Linda Vista Child Development Center to call attention to the alarmingly low number of San Diego children who are enrolled in preschool programs.

April 27:
Valley Children Left Out of Preschool: High Profile Central Valley Leaders Convene Forum on Benefits and Public Demand for Preschool for All
Education, law enforcement and business leaders gathered today at Fresno State’s Joyce M. Huggins Early Education Center to call attention to the alarmingly low number of Valley children who are enrolled in preschool programs.