After two years of hearings, focus groups and study, the Assembly Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education has released its final report. Among the key findings:
- Focus on expanding access to children and families most in need, while working toward the goal of universal access to early care and education (ECE).
- Parents should be treated as experts on their children’s care and education. No new program should be implemented without parent input.
- The ECE workforce should be supported in developing expertise and compensated as their counterparts in the K-12 system are.
- Establish the Early Childhood Policy Council to be the primary advisory body on ECE for the Legislature, Governor and Superintendent of Public Instruction.
“Early childhood education underpins so much of what we need to accomplish as a society. Early education is how you turn around cycles of poverty, it’s how you give children a strong foundation for education, and it’s how you lift up families. We can’t get started too soon on the ideas we have produced,” said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood).
“California has a lot to gain by investing in early childhood education, including better futures for our kids and a stronger economy for all. The Blue Ribbon Commission report lays out a road map that will help ensure today’s youth get a great start in life, and that we have skilled providers ready to do this important work. I can’t wait to get started, said Commissioner and Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco).
The full report can be found HERE.