Early Childhood Education

California expanded preschool access, but report says state needs to improve quality

The report by the National Institute for Early Education Research found California met 3 out of 10 quality benchmarks for transitional kindergarten.

A 3-year-old boy puts blue and green blocks into a plastic bag. There are also purple, yellow, orange, green, red and blue dinosaurs on the table.

LAUSD teachers will get paid parental leave for the first time

Teachers with the Los Angeles Unified School District will get four weeks of paid parental leave under terms of a new contract.

Three people in red shirts hold signs that say "STRIKE READY" and take a selfie.

A new woodland where little kids can play with all the native plants opens in Claremont

California Botanic Garden opens Children’s Woodland, a free-form nature play space that emphasizes connections to native plants.

In a large outdoor forest area, a small child with light skin tone sticks her hands into a tree stump.

California attorney general issues guidance to childcare providers on protecting families from ICE

Under the new law that went into effect this year, childcare providers are barred from asking about a child's or family member’s immigration status.

Thousands of immigrants lawfully in California set to lose CalFresh benefits

Officials say the change will affect an estimated 23,000 people in Los Angeles County.

An adult reaches for a banana on a metal shelve as a child carries a toy rolling grocery basket with groceries inside it. On their left are shelves of canned food and other bags of food.

California has a paid leave program for self-employed workers. But few are using it

The state has a program for self-employed workers and small business owners, but workers don’t always know to opt in.

There's only one postpartum depression medication currently approved by the FDA. And while it's known to be extremely effective, access is limited.

Your kid is melting down. Here’s how to help

Experts say play can be key in helping children through big feelings.

A man in a light blue striped shirt hugs a crying toddler.

Californians are using paid family leave at record levels

In 2025, the state increased payments for people who took time off to care for a child or a family member.

baby turned over and tucked in a white blanket

Orange County is investing $75K to jump-start a childcare incubator. Will it work?

First 5 Orange County was recently awarded $75,000 from O.C. Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento.

A dark skin-toned young girl writes letters on a whiteboard in the outdoor classroom of a home-based daycare in Hawthorne, California.

California invested billions into a new grade for 4-year-olds — without a plan to evaluate it

Experts say California isn't studying its own transitional kindergarten program, despite research that has shown a public preschool program doesn’t guarantee better outcomes.

A student with dark skin tone and brown hair in braids with pink beads spins in a chair-like toy on the playground.

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