RE: Question 1: Pre-school support-What's in the Plan

Background for Question 1: The draft Master Plan (Introduction) states "the students who are faring least well in our public schools, colleges, and universities - largely students from low-income families and students of color - also make up the greater proportion of California?s increasing population." Further, "nearly half of all school age children live in families with low incomes and more than a quarter under the age of five live in poverty." (Draft Master Plan, Access to the Conditions that Promote Learning). About one in three primary school students are learning English. (EdSource publication "Who Are California's Students?") 

In the face of these statistics and in line with research findings, the draft Master Plan suggests increasing access of all infants and toddlers to conditions that are expected to promote learning. Recommendations 1 and 2 encourage health screenings for developmental delays or physical problems that could interfere with readiness for school, and effective coordination of health and social services delivery at accessible sites for families who need or request services. Recommendation 3 is for voluntary access to formal preschool programs beginning two years prior to kindergarten; 3.1suggests an individualized plan for each child, covering their transition from early education to Kindergarten; and 3.2  covers phasing in required, full-day kindergarten. Recommendation 51 proposes that the State should develop and fund a per-child allocation model to finance early care and education.