Local preschool champions are working hard to increase and improve preschool opportunity for the children in their communities. They are proof that when in possession of resources and support, local communities will often choose to invest in effective pre-kindergarten. Unfortunately, the lack of a statewide funding solution is one of the biggest challenges communities face to expanding preschool.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, First 5 California and the California County Superintendent Education Services Association (CCSESA) have stepped in to help communities launch strategic, effective, and long-term preschool expansion efforts. We already see results. See a sample of what’s happening in counties in Northern (Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo), Central and Coastal (Fresno, Merced, Ventura), and Southern (Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego) California.

For more information, the First 5 California survey, Pre-Kindergarten Expansion in California, includes fact sheets for every county in the state.

Northern California

Sacramento County Office of Education - in collaboration with the Packard Foundation, First 5 Sacramento and other partner organizations in Sacramento - has emerged as a lead agency working to expand access to effective preschool programs for young children. Sacramento County's Superintendent of Schools, Dave Gordon, is a true preschool champion. Learn about Sacramento’s Preschool Bridging Model and the county’s preschool expansion efforts at the Sacramento County Office of Education website.

San Francisco voters overwhelmingly passed the Preschool for All Initiative in 2004, which will provides free voluntary half-day preschool for all 4 year olds in San Francisco by 2009. Implementation has started and children living in the certain neighborhoods are now eligible with plans to add more neighborhoods every year until all children who want to participate are served. Visit the First 5 San Francisco website for more information on San Francisco's progress.

San Mateo County was the first county in California to develop and implement an effort to make effective pre-kindergarten available to all its 3 and 4 year olds.  First 5 San Mateo County Commission, in collaboration with First 5 California, the County of San Mateo and the Packard Foundation has made a multi-year, multi-million dollar commitment to expand preschool opportunity to every child. The San Mateo County Office of Education serves as the lead agency to implement the program. Read more at First 5 San Mateo County.

Central and Coastal California

Fresno County, with funding and support from the Packard Foundation, First 5 Fresno and leaders in the local business community, has taken steps to create an accessible and effective network of important early childhood education services in Fresno. In 2004, First 5 Fresno developed the strategic plan “Putting Children First,” which sets goals for improving family functioning, child development and child health. Visit the First 5 Fresno website.

Merced County places a major focus on preschool expansion.  Through their Preschool for All/Power of Preschool program and the School Readiness Initiative, the Merced County Office of Education and First 5 Merced are working together to ensure all children enter school ready to succeed. Both programs place an emphasis on and provide critical support in the areas of early child education, parenting, curriculum guidelines and staff development. Visit the Merced County Office of Education website.

Ventura County received funding from the Packard Foundation and First 5 California to develop a Preschool for All Work Plan. The work plan includes standards to create effective preschool programs and recommendations for workforce development, facilities and funding. The plan specifies immediate implementation steps for the Hueneme pilot region.  Visit the First 5 Ventura County website.

Southern California

Los Angeles County has a host of on-the-ground preschool activity. Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP), an independent public benefit corporation funded by First 5 Los Angeles, leads the effort to make effective preschool available to every 4 year old in Los Angeles County, regardless of their family’s income, by 2014. Learn more about preschool efforts in Los Angeles at LAUP’s website. 
 
Orange County operates a School Readiness program, which aims to ensure that children are physically, mentally and emotionally prepared to learn and succeed when they enter the classroom. The First 5 Orange County Commission funds School Readiness Coordinators, who act as liaisons with early learning centers, school districts and Head Start, to make sure that schools are prepared for the needs of children from their first day of school. The Local School Readiness program operates as a partnership between the Commission, the Orange County Department of Education and the county's 26 school districts. Read more about Orange County’s School Readiness Program.

San Diego County implemented a 5-year plan, led by the San Diego County Office of Education and First 5 San Diego, to make free and effective preschool programs available to every 4 year old in the San Diego area living in six identified communities within the cities of Escondido, Lemon Grove, National City, San Ysidro, South Bay and Valley Center/Pauma. Read more at the San Diego County Office of Education website.