It’s time to prioritize our youngest Californians
In a new commentary for EdSource, Early Edge’s Executive Director Patricia Lozano and Kidango’s CEO Scott Moore underscore the urgent need for expanding access to high-quality, affordable or free birth to three child care to more California families as well as supporting child care providers who care for babies and toddlers, outlining key actions our state should stay focused on now to improve the dire shortage of care.
California is home to more than 1.7 million children under the age of 3 — our future doctors, teachers, engineers, and leaders. These youngest Californians represent about 4% of our state’s population and are from diverse backgrounds, with nearly 60% speaking a language other than English at home. Yet, for too long, they have been left behind in policy discussions and funding decisions.
The science is clear: 80% of brain growth happens by the age of 3, laying the foundation for a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. Every moment in which we do not invest in babies’ development is a critical missed opportunity to lay the foundation for our future.
That’s why babies urgently need high-quality, affordable early learning and care from birth. Unfortunately, for many families, this is either too expensive or unavailable, forcing parents into impossible choices between their careers and raising their children.