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Preschool News

July 2006

The Future of Universal Preschool in California

On June 16, 2006, California Universal Preschool advocates and Packard Foundation grantees held a conference call to discuss the future of our children’s early education. As a result of the meeting, we unanimously agreed to remain committed to improving preschool quality and expanding preschool access to all California children, at both the state and local levels. In addition, we will continue to work with our elected leaders to invest in our children, so that universal access to quality preschool will someday be a given — not merely a dream.

Impacts of Preposition 82 on Universal Preschool in Los Angeles Unified Preschool (LAUP)

Preschools currently funded by LAUP will see no interruption in service and current LAUP families will not be affected. LAUP will continue to evaluate applications for funding and enter contracts with new providers in areas of greatest need throughout the county.

LAUP is fully funded by First 5 LA through at least 2009, which means they have sufficient resources to continue funding existing LAUP preschools, and the hundreds more to be added in the coming months, for a number of years.

LAUP will continue its current work with the support of First 5 LA, but must look elsewhere to fund the future of a program that gives thousands of 4-year-olds a better chance at school. The vote on Proposition 82 did not change the fact that every child deserves the opportunity to attend a high- quality preschool, and LAUP will continue to work to make that goal a reality.

California State NAACP

The outcome of Preposition 82 initiative did not affect our campaign in any way. We have launched a statewide preschool outreach program through our branches and college chapters making sure that all people receive the message. On June 16th, 2006, we conducted the Packard grantees conference call meeting to map the way forward in our collaboration. During our deliberations, it was noted that preschool is now high on the California radar.

Many more people now understand that preschool has the power to open doors and change lives. There will never be another serious conversation in this state about school reform that does not include preschool.

California State Conference of NAACP will continue to work with other preschool stakeholders to make sure that all Californian children have access to the benefits that quality preschool provides. Working closely with the National NAACP Education Director Michael T. S. Wotorson on the national campaign entitled "Equity Matters,” we will ensure that our classrooms have the right number of students, certified teachers, and the appropriate text books, which a child is allowed to bring home. Our emphasis will be on preschool as the mother of education.

NAACP is a Civil Rights non-profit organization established in 1909 working to see that the rights of the minority population and people of color are not violated.

Will the Governor's 3-Year, $145 Million Plan Bridge the Gap in Acheivement Between Rich and Poor?

Voters' rejection of Proposition 82 on June 6th should clear room for a more modest preschool plan that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger added to the May revision of the state budget. Schwarzenegger is proposing to add $50 million next year as the first installment of a three-year, $145 million expansion of preschool for the state's 4-year-olds. That is less than one-tenth of the $2 billion universal preschool that would have been funded by taxing the rich under Proposition 82. But it is also more effective, in that it is targeting 43,000 children who probably need it most -- those in neighborhoods served by the worst-performing public schools. He also proposed $50 million in one- time facilities construction and renovation loans. The funding will also emphasize parent training and parent/child literacy.

The Legislature initially rejected the May revision preschool expansion, but re-considered in the final negotiations. While the funding will be set aside in the Budget, the expansion will be contingent upon legislation that must be approved this session.

Preschool California to Continue Fight to Expand Access for Children

Preschool California President Catherine Atkin Press Release

6/7/2006 12:23:00 PM

"The loss of Prop. 82 is also a loss for hundreds of thousands of California children each year who still have no access to quality preschool programs that would help them get ready to succeed in school. The people who came together to fight for Prop. 82 are not giving up or going away. We remain committed to improving preschool quality and expanding access to all California children."

"Our victory is that preschool is now high on the California radar. Many more people now understand that preschool has the power to open doors and change lives. There will never be another serious conversation in this state about school reform that does not include preschool."

"Preschool California will continue to work with others to make sure that no California children are denied the proven benefits that quality preschool provides."

Preschool California is a non-profit, non-partisan organization working to establish quality, publicly-funded preschool opportunity for all 4-year-olds in California.