AUGUST 2019
EYES ON THE EARLY YEARS

An early education newsletter from EdSource
Happy fall to all parents, educators, administrators, and others interested in early education! Here is some of what we'll be keeping an eye on in coming months:

  • In January, 2020, California state-subsidized preschools in neighborhoods where more than 80 percent of students qualify for free- or reduced-priced meals will now be able to enroll all 4-year-olds who live within the neighborhood boundaries, regardless of family income. State preschools will still give priority to lowest income families.

  • Thousands more children in California are expected to be screened for developmental delays and for traumatic experiences next year.

  • Beginning in July, 2020, Californians will be able to take 8 weeks of paid family leave to care for a newborn or newly adopted child or a sick family member. That's 2 more weeks than what is currently available. Paid family leave is in addition to the 6 weeks of disability leave available to women after they give birth.

Looking forward to covering these and other stories in the coming year. Feel free to email me with tips, story ideas and comments. In the meantime, check out our bill tracker of the many bills affecting early education making their way through the Legislature.

Zaidee Stavely
Early Education Reporter, EdSource
From the EdSource Early Learning Desk:

California's size and diversity make push for universal preschool and extended paid leave a potential model for a national effort. 



Legislation could increase teacher pay at subsidized centers serving low-income children.



EdSource is tracking 27 early childhood bills introduced in the Legislature this session. Find out where they are.

What we're reading
Making home visits work for immigrant families
A new policy brief from the Migration Policy Institute’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy examines the barriers and the opportunities to expand home visiting programs to more young children in immigrant families and households where a language other than English is spoken (Dual Language Learners, or DLLs).

Teaching hard history on slavery for grades K-5
These resources from Teaching Tolerance for elementary educators include a framework, along with student texts, teaching tools and professional development for anyone committed to teaching this hard history to our youngest students.
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