As part of our focus on ensuring very young children are successful in the education system, the East Bay Community Foundation has co-sponsored a new publication by Children Now that aims to improve California’s myriad programs and funding streams for early learning and development.

Currently, the need for quality early learning and development opportunities in California remains largely unmet, despite investments to improve programs. Just six percent of spaces in licensed child care and development centers are available for infants and toddlers under age two. Only half of three-and-four-year-old children in economically disadvantaged families attend center-based preschool programs. The quality of these settings runs from poor to excellent.

The well-being of our youngest children depends on increased access to more early-learning opportunities and the development of coordinated and comprehensive services assisting young children and their families.

Children Now's guide, California's Early Learning & Development System: A Review of Funding Streams and Programs, provides policymakers and advocates a tool that guides them through the early learning and development programs in the state and encourages them to implement critical next steps. The guide has been distributed to members of the California Senate, California Assembly, the California State Early Learning Advisory Council, and to early learning and development advocates throughout the state. To view the full guide, click here.

As part of this campaign, you can send a message today to legislators in Sacramento, urging them to prioritize children’s needs. It’s easy and it’s fast. Just click here.