Pass California's Preschool Reform Package Now

SB 1629 (Steinberg)
Early Learning Quality Improvement Act

Summary
SB 1629 would establish a Commission to create a state Early Learning Quality Improvement System.

Status
Signed by the Governor on September 26.

AB 2759 (Jones)
California State Preschool Program Act

Summary
AB 2759 would consolidate and streamline existing Title 5 child development programs that serve preschool-aged children.

Status
Signed by the Governor on September 26.

What's New

Governor signs SB 1629 and AB 2759!
• Read the governor's press release.
• Read Assemblymember Jones's press release.
• Read State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell's press release.

SB 1629 author Senator Darrell Steinberg and AB 2759 author Assemblymember Dave Jones joined State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell and leaders from the co-sponsoring organizations at a press conference at a Sacramento preschool. See photos and key quotes from the event.

Secretary of Education David Long and other education leaders celebrated the signing of the bills at an event at a Los Angeles preschool. See photos from the event.

Governor signs SB 1298 (Simitian and Steinberg). SB 1298 which will create a more seamless P-16 system through the implementation of a common identifier for records from preschool through higher education. Read the governor's press release.

California Business for Education Excellence voices support the bills. Read CBEE's support letters on SB 1629 and AB 2759.

Key Media Coverage

• San Jose Mercury News: Preschool bills improve access to early education. September 26.
• California Progress Report: Preschool Legislation Aimed at Closing the Achievement Gap in California Becomes Law. September 27. By Catherine Atkin
• Contra Costa Times: Preschool bills improve access to early education. September 26.
• Vallejo Times Herald: Governor signs bills aiming to help preschools. September 27.
• Imperial Valley News: Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Pre-Kindergarten Education Legislation. September 27.
• La Opinion: Editorial: Preschool education awaits [La educación preescolar espera]. September 5.
• Elk Grove Citizen: Preschool: Part of California’s Education Blueprint for Success. September 3.
• Ventura County Star: The future of our children depends on funding preschools now. By John Crombach
• Pasadena Star News: Preschool shapes our future leaders. July 27. By Assemblymember Mike Eng
• San Mateo County Times: San Mateo County preschool program shows the way. July 17. By Dr. Jean Holbrook
• Tri-City Voice: We need high quality preschool. July 16. By Sheila Jordan
• North County Times: Another View: State needs quality preschool programs. July 6. By Dede Alpert
• Santa Cruz Sentinel: As We See It: Keep kids in school. June 29
• San Mateo Daily Journal: Preschool bill aims to streamline funding. May 22
• California Progress Report: Preschool reform is alive and well in the California Legislature. May 8. By Catherine Atkin
• Imperial Valley News. Plan to improve California preschool options highlighted. May 8
• San Mateo County Times: Preschool bills getting high grades from county official. May 6
• San Jose Mercury News's Educated Guess Blog: Bringing quality to pre-k. April 14
• Voice of San Diego: Tangle of funds perplexes preschool providers. March 28
• Desert Sun: State needs to bolster its pre-k education. March 22. By Catherine Atkin.

SB 1629

Introduced by Senator Steinberg

Coauthors
• Senator Romero (principal coauthor)
• Assemblymember Jones (principal coauthor)
• Assemblymember Arambula
• Assemblymember Huffman
• Assemblymember Laird
• Assemblymember Nunez

Co-sponsors
• California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell
• Preschool California
• Children Now
• California Child Development Administrators Association

Support (partial list)
• Advancement Project
• Alameda County Office of Education
• Alliance for a Better Community
• Bay Area Council
• BIOCOM
• California Association for Bilingual Education
• California Association for the Education of Young Children
• California Business for Education Excellence
• California Child Care Coordinators Association
• California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
• California Continuation Education Association
• California County Superintendents Educational Services Association
• California Federation of Teachers
• California Head Start Association
• California Kindergarten Association
• California School Boards Association
• California State PTA
• California Teachers Association
• Californians Together
• Campaign for High Quality Early Learning Standards in California
• Child Development Policy Institute
• Child Care Law Center
• Children’s Defense Fund--California
• El Dorado County Office of Education
• English Language Learners Preschool Coalition
• Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California
• First 5 California
• League of Women Voters
• Los Angeles County Office of Education
• Hispanas Organized for Political Equality
• Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
• Los Angeles Universal Preschool
• Low Income Investment Fund
• Mendocino County Office of Education
• Merced County Office of Education
• National Council of La Raza
• Policy Roundtable for Child Care
• Professional Association for Childhood Education
• Sacramento County Office of Education
• San Bernardino Mayor Patrick J. Morris
• San Mateo County Office of Education
• Silicon Valley Leadership Group
• Yolo County Office of Education

Additional Resources
• Video of hearing: Senate Appropriations on May 12 (1:36:40 to 1:42:00)

For more information
Susanna Cooper, (916) 651-4582, Susanna.Cooper@sen.ca.gov

AB 2759

Introduced by Assemblymember Jones
Coauthors
• Senator Steinberg (principal coauthor)
• Assemblymember Brownley
• Assemblymember Coto
• Assemblymember Huffman
• Assemblymember Laird
• Assemblymember Mullin
• Assemblymember Nunez

Co-sponsors
• State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell
• Preschool California
• Children Now
• California Child Development Administrators Association

Support (partial list)
• Advancement Project
• Bay Area Council
• Bay Area Early Childhood Education Professional Development Collaborative
• BIOCOM
• California Business for Education Excellence
• California Child Care Resource & Referral Network
• California County Superintendents Educational Services Association
• California Federation of Teachers
• California Head Start Association
• California School Boards Association
• California State PTA
• California Teachers Association
• Child Development Policy Institute
• County of Los Angeles
• Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
• First 5 California
• League of Women Voters of California
• Local Early Education Planning Council of Santa Clara County
• Los Angeles County Office of Education
• Los Angeles Universal Preschool
• Low Income Investment Fund
• Merced County Office of Education
• Nuview Union School District
• Options – A Child Care and Human Services Agency
• Professional Association for Childhood Education
• Sacramento County Office of Education
• San Mateo County Office of Education
• Silicon Valley Leadership Group
• State Coalition of Probation Organizations
• United Educators of San Francisco

Additional Resources
• Video of hearing: Assembly Appropriations on May 7 (44:50 to 51:10)

For more information
Janice Rocco, (916) 319-2009

Other early care and education legislation includes:

SB 1298 (Simitian and Steinberg)
[Text] [LegInfo]
SB 1298, the Education Data and Information Act, would address a number of issues related to data and require the Department of Education to begin using a common identifier for records from center-based early childhood programs through higher education.
Status: Signed by Governor on 9/29. Press release

AB 2467 (Brownley)
[Text] [LegInfo]
AB 2467 would develop a system to transfer, with parental permission, preschool information to elementary school.
Status: Vetoed by Governor 9/26. Veto message

For information about other preschool-related bills, visit our State Preschool Legislation page.


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