Blue Ribbon Commission Releases Ambitious Statewide Plan for ECE in CA

As reported by EdSource this week:

Following two years of extensive research, and input from family and child care focus groups, lawmakers and leaders in the early childhood field, the California Assembly Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education released a wide-reaching draft report on how to improve child care and preschool in California.

The commission’s report includes recommendations for facilitating and paying for:

• Expanding access to early education
• Training and compensating the child care workforce
• Improving quality in early education environments
• Retrofitting or building more preschool and child care classrooms

“This document is a tour de force,” said Kim Pattillo Brownson, vice president of policy and strategy for First 5 LA.

According to Parent Voices statewide organizer Mary Ignatius, “Because parents and providers were part of the commission and there were processes to really be inclusive of their voices, it really makes this process stand out.” Parent Voices’ San Francisco chapter is a critical part of Children’s Council’s local and state advocacy work.

Children’s Council enthusiastically supports this critical work by the Blue Ribbon Commission and we are inspired by the recommendations of this ambitious report. We encourage everyone who believes in the importance of early care and education to read this comprehensive report and provide feedback to the commission.

The final report is expected to be released next month.

Comments can be sent by email to Assembly.BlueRibbonCommission@asm.ca.gov until March 20, 2019.

Want to advocate with other parents for better access to affordable child care for all SF families? Contact Parent Voices – San Francisco for details.