Newly-Released Master Plan for Early Learning and Care Makes a California for All Kids Possible
Leading Children’s Organizations Early Edge California and Kidango Weigh in on The Master Plan
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, the California Health and Human Services Agency released the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care: Making California For All Kids. The plan was developed by a team of experts that assessed Early Learning research and data as well as input gathered from Early Learning stakeholders across the state. Commissioned by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019, and guided by the oversight of the Early Childhood Policy Council, the new plan presents a comprehensive system of services for meeting the needs of all children in California, and it provides a path to make this system a reality.
“The ‘whole child’ is at the heart of the Master Plan. It provides guidelines for building a system that supports this concept, while increasing access to those with the greatest need. It accounts for all of our children and creates plans to meet their developmental needs–including Dual Language Learners, children with disabilities, and kids experiencing trauma. It also supports Universal Pre-K and recommends building a system that is competency-based and creates a strong and steady workforce in the years to come,” said Patricia Lozano, Executive Director of Early Edge California.
“Governor Newsom has delivered a historic plan for erasing the inequities that face so many young children from the day they are born. When this plan is implemented, California will be the greatest state to raise a family. This plan is the light at the end of the tunnel that so many parents and child care teachers are desperate for,” said Scott Moore, CEO of Kidango.
The priority areas in the Master Plan include options and actionable plans for a fiscal framework, facilities, access, quality, and universal prekindergarten. Key features of the Master Plan include:
- Creating Universal TK for 4-year-olds starting with districts with the greatest number of low-income children.
- Expanding Pre-K to all income-eligible 3-year-olds and 3-year-olds with disabilities.
- Increasing wage reimbursement for lower-income workers and supporting small businesses to implement Paid Family Leave.
- Creating legislation to identify and report the language status of Dual Language Learners.
- Building a competency-based workforce development system.
- Implementing funding reform to increase access and sustain a high-quality workforce.
- Creating an integrated data system.
We thank Governor Newsom for envisioning a brighter future for our kids, and calling for the creation of a plan that prioritizes the whole child. Thank you to the researchers who worked tirelessly this year, during the unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, to design a plan that presents an integrated system of services from early learning to health care and to the Early Childhood Policy Council for overseeing the process. We look forward to collaborating with the administration and the legislature in implementing this plan to support our state’s most valuable asset — our children.
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Early Edge California is a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to improving access to high-quality Early Learning experiences for all California children so they can have a strong foundation for future success.
Kidango is an Early Learning nonprofit committed to setting every child on a path to thrive in Kindergarten and in life. As the largest childcare provider in the San Francisco Bay Area, we provide thousands of children, especially those from low-income families, with safe, healthy, nurturing environments and relationships. Our goal is to make sure all children have the social, emotional, and academic skills they need to learn, grow and realize their potential.