Universal Preschool

We know that a stimulating environment and positive learning experiences during the early years have a powerful effect on young children's later school performance.   Universal preschool recognizes that before children enter kindergarten, much of their potential for learning and healthy growth was shaped.  Universal preschool is linked with the movement toward higher standards and expectations for all students and offers broad opportunities that prepare students for personal and academic success.

Every day, three out of five preschoolers are in "child care".  Children enter care as early as six weeks of age and can be in care for as many as 40 hours a week.  A recent national study showed that six out of seven child care centers provide care that is mediocre to poor.   One cause  is the high turnover rate (nationally at 40%) of preschool staff, because of poor wages and limited benefits. 

Early brain research clearly indicates that positive stimulation of the brain during the early years--for example, through interactions with others and the development of language--creates the foundation for a child's lifelong thinking, attitudes and behavior.  Thus, there is a need for establishing comprehensive, quality early childhood education programs that articulate with Kindergarten and primary grades.  These programs, while ideally situated at school sites, can also be offered through centers and home based options.

The Master Plan must include comprehensive early childhood education programs that are taught by credentialled teachers and aides, who are compensated at the level of elementary school teachers.  In this new system, early childhood educators would be required to have equivalent training as elementary school teachers.  Rather than place children in "child care" situations, opportunities for voluntary early childhood education programs for all children must be available in California.  

Key elements of a Universal Preschool Plan:
1.	The underlying assumption is that the number of single parent and dual income families continue to demand the need for early childhood education programs.
2.	Articulation between early childhood education programs and kindergarten classes should take place.
3.	Developmentally appropriate curricula for early childhood education programs should be developed.
4.	Early childhood education teachers/aides should be paid salaries commensurate with K-12 staff, for equivalent training.
5.	Subsidized early childhood education programs should be available for parents who desire them, on school sites, when feasible.
6.	Continuing education for early childhood education staff should be encouraged.
7.	Parental involvement should be a component of early childhood education programs--what better training for involvement later at the K-12 level?
8.	Comprehensive health screening should be available for all early childhood education programs.  Early detection of vision, hearing, dental and health problems can reduce the numbers of children in Special Education programs and enhance each child's ability to learn.


Finally, it is important for poicymakers to understand that in many rural counties County Offices of Education plays a pivotal role in coordinating ece programs.  In many counties, the COE administers state preschool, child development and head start programs, Child Care Resource and Referral Services, Alternative Payment and CalWORKS Child Care programs, Child Nutrition program for family child care providers, recruitment and training efforts for family child care providers and a variety of other services that support families.    

COEs throughout the state are an ideal centralized sites for organizing and implementing training programs for both public and privately operated ece programs.  The COE can also play a significant role in parental education and delivery of health care services, in collaboration with other county agencies.  Most importantly, the COE has the ability to coordinate articulation efforts between ece programs that are not based at school sites.  These efforts will enhance the ability of ece teachers and primary school teachers to plan curricula that is streamlined and seamless and responds to the best interests of the child.