Early Childhood Education

California teacher shortage hinders push to provide transitional kindergarten for bilingual learners

It’s uncertain whether California will have enough teachers to meet the state’s ambitious goals to provide transitional kindergarten to all 4-year-olds, and increase bilingual education for dual-language learners.

A woman with light brown skin sits at a small round classroom table. A number of children eat lunch around her. One child clings to her back.

How To Host Your Own Super Fun Children's Reading Party, Just Like We Did

For our second annual Super-Fun Saturday, we partnered with more than two dozen community partners, along with local Los Angeles authors and performers.

A light-skinned woman on a stage reads to a group of children and adults in a brightly colored but dark room.

Minimum Wage Rising For Fast Food, Health Care Workers. Where Does That Leave Child Care Workers?

Minimum wage for many California fast workers is now $20. Those who work in child care say they feel left behind.

A 4-year-old boy with light brown skin plays with playdough at a children's table set up as part of a rally. People hold signs, chanting behind him.

Governor’s Budget Revisions Cut Money For Transitional Kindergarten Classrooms

The governor's revised proposal makes cuts to funding for transitional kindergarten facilities, state preschool slots, and home visiting programs.

A 4-year-old girl in a pink shirt sits in a classroom.

Why So Few Children Are Getting Screened For Delays — And Tips For Parents

Research shows that early intervention for children with developmental delays is key. But less than a third of children on Medi-Cal are receiving state-mandated developmental screenings.

A child with brown hair in a braid looks out a rainy window.

How To Have The Pregnancy You Deserve, According To Black Parents And Maternal Health Experts

Parents and maternal health advocates share advice for expecting parents, from listening to grandmas to making your voice heard.

A medium-light skin tone Black woman with straightened hair pulled back in a long ponytail crouches next to her son’s stroller with a big smile on her face as she looks at him. Her son, a medium skin tone baby with a soft striped hoodie and grey leggings, looks at the camera with a big smile and his tongue sticking out behind two front teeth.

Black Moms Bring Questions, Accountability (And A Party Bus) To LA Hospitals

An organized bus tour takes Black pregnant people to hospitals and clinics around Los Angeles to help them make informed decisions about their healthcare.

A group of Black women sit in a bus with dark paneling but bright blue neon lights running along the top.

Los Angeles Needs More Early Education Teachers. How About Parents?

There’s a shortage of early childhood educators across the country. To help, Los Angeles County is training parents who have their kids in Head Start to become teachers themselves.

A toddler girl with pigtails sits at the bottom of a slide at a park next to her mother.

More Than 50,000 Babies And Toddlers Experiencing Homelessness In California, Study Finds

Few babies and toddlers were enrolled in early childhood development programs, which experts say can stem the negative effects of homelessness.

Family Forward Learning Center Pasadena early childhood preschool coronavirus

California Set Aside Money For Children Orphaned By COVID. Now The State Just Has To Find Them

Starting next year, California will set up trust funds for kids in low-income families who lost a parent to COVID. The state doesn’t know who all those kids are, though.