Giving Compass' Take:

· Although the state of California does not offer universal pre-K programs, The Hechinger Report highlights three communities that are developing innovative preschools for vulnerable children. 

· How can other areas replicate these strategies to provide early childhood programs for vulnerable youths? In what ways can donors help fund this area?

· Here's why California needs to establish early childhood programs.

California’s early education system is still not fully funded more than a decade after the Great Recession even though the need is vast. The state has the largest population of children 4 and under in the nation. More than 20 percent are English learners and nearly 24 percent of children 6 and under live in poverty. Early childhood education could be especially beneficial for poor kids but California does not offer universal pre-K. During the 2016-17 school year, the state served just 11 percent of 3-year-olds and 37 percent of 4-year-olds in state-funded pre-K.

But several communities in California have tried to buck the trend by developing innovative preschools, especially for children who are dual-language learners, live in low-income home or have faced adversity. A recently released report by New America highlights the work in these three communities, San Jose, Oakland, and Fresno, and explains how other areas can adopt these strategies.

  1. Helping parents
  2. Teaching the teachers
  3. Improving data collection to determine need

Although these districts have seen some success in rolling out these new initiatives, the authors of the New America report caution that several key ingredients are needed for other districts to replicate these strategies. Administrators are needed to support and coordinate programs, and coaches must be available to help teachers as they change or adapt their teaching. Partners are often needed to work with school districts and funding is needed to pay for substitutes for teachers to attend trainings during the week, as well as for classroom supplies and venues.

Read the full article about improving preschool by Jackie Mader at The Hechinger Report.