Universal Prekindergarten in California: Progress and Opportunities

Hosted by the Learning Policy Institute, the Association for California School Administrators, and Early Edge California

California made an ambitious commitment in 2021 to expand universal prekindergarten (UPK) to all 4-year-olds and income-eligible 3-year-olds by 2025–26, with more than $4 billion in proposed investments in 2025. As we enter the final year of UPK expansion, we will take stock of how far we have come and where we need to go in an in-person briefing.

This briefing will share research from the Learning Policy Institute on who is enrolling in state-funded prekindergarten programs, how enrollment has changed over time, and what informs families’ decisions about where to enroll their children. The research will examine how districts are delivering PreK, focusing on key areas like facilities, transportation, instruction, multilingual learners, children with special needs, and workforce development. A panel of practitioners and experts will share their UPK experiences and discuss strategies for future success.

This event is designed for California state legislators and staff, school and district leaders, and others working to build a robust early learning system in California.

Speakers: 

• Dora Jacildo, Executive Director, Child Lane
• Sonia Jaramillo, Senior Director, Monterey County Office of Education
• Patricia Lozano, Executive Director, Early Edge California
• Hanna Melnick, Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Early Learning Policy, Learning Policy Institute
• Paula Merrigan, Transitional Kindergarten Teacher, Castro Valley Unified School District
• Al Muratsuchi, California Assemblymember, District 66

Additional speakers to be added.

Additional Information: 

• Please RSVP by March 14. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and will close on March 14 or when full. 
• Participants are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19. If you’re feeling unwell, please do not attend. Air cleaners and masks will be available on-site.

We hope you can join us for this important research and policy discussion. If you have questions about this event, please contact [email protected].

Host or Publisher Learning Policy Institute