New Oversight for California’s Pre-K System

California took a step toward improving its pre-K system by creating the California State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care. The new council will coordinate federal, state and local investments in early childhood education and collaborate with existing programs to develop a data system for continuous program improvement.

Establishing the council puts the state in a position to compete for federal funding, including grants from the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for states to develop and implement plans established by state early learning councils. In addition, funds from the Early Learning Challenge Fund, if passed, are likely to go to states with early childhood councils.

Last year, California established the Early Learning Quality Improvement System (ELQIS) committee to develop an early learning quality rating system and propose other recommendations for improving quality. The ELQIS committee will now be an official committee of the California State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care.