Universal Preschool in California

A New Bill Proposes to Implement Universal Preschool in California

California legislators are currently considering a proposal that would make public preschool available to all California families by 2019. Some say early education is one of the best places to invest public funds, while others aren’t so sure. Only three other U.S. states have adopted full universal preschool platforms – should California be the fourth?

I. Pre-K Benefits

Academics: Studies are clear that preschool significantly advances children academically in their early years. However, other studies indicate that the academic benefits of preschool plateau during elementary school as children who did not attend preschool catch up. As such, many opponents of universal preschool will point to its potentially limited benefits academically.

Social Benefits: Aside from academic performance, there is a significant amount of research showing that those who attend preschool have an easier time maintaining employment, holding lasting marriages, and staying out of jail. Thus, while the academic benefits may have limitations, the overall social benefits still bring a strong return on the investment.

State Investment: As a result of the social benefits, some research has shown that every dollar invested in high quality early education can save more than $7 later on. Other cost-benefit analyses have produced even higher estimated returns of $16 of savings per dollar spent.

II. Existing Public Pre-K Programs

Since 1964, the Federal Head-Start program has extended the availability of preschool to low-income families by funding public and private preschool providers. However, these preschool programs are only available to families at or below the federal poverty level.

Most states begin public education at kindergarten for children ages 5 and up. While many states have taken measures to increase pre-k accessibility for children under 5, only three states currently have “universal” pre-k available publically to all children. Those states are Oklahoma, Georgia, and Florida. However, of those states, many academics point to Oklahoma as providing the best model.

III. The Oklahoma Model
In Oklahoma, the universal pre-k model places an emphasis on high quality pre-k programs. This is achieved through sufficient state funding, partnerships, and state regulations ensuring small class sizes and qualified teachers.

Funding & Enrollment: Oklahoma’s program works by giving more funding to schools that agree to enroll 4-year olds. Although both school and student participation is voluntary, most schools flock to the opportunity and 74% of Oklahoma 4 year olds are enrolled.
Oklahoma spends $3,500 of state funds per pre-k student annually, however, once partnerships are factored in, $7,700 is spent per pre-k student each year.

Quality Standards under the Oklahoma model include:

• All pre-k teachers must have a bachelors degree
• All pre-k teachers must have a certificate in childhood education
• All pre-k teachers must be paid the same as K-12 teachers
• Pre-k classes must have a student teacher ratio of no more than 10-1
• Pre-k class sizes are limited to 20

Partnerships: One of the keys to Oklahoma’s successful pre-k program is the valuable partnerships they have developed between school districts and other public and private entities. This includes school districts partnering and subcontracting with federal Head-Start programs and other qualified private pre-k providers.

Contrast with Florida Model: Florida only spends $2,400 per pre-k student each year and doesn’t have the same stringent regulations on class sizes and teacher qualifications. As result, Florida’s public preschools failed to meet the majority of quality benchmarks set by the National Institute of Early Education Research.

IV. California Public Pre-K Law
Kindergarten Readiness Act
Recognizing the benefits of early education, in 2010 state legislators passed the Kindergarten Readiness Act creating a transitional kindergarten program available to students with birthdays at the end of the year. Transitional kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program providing age appropriate education for qualifying students.

While the program is optional for students, all public school districts must offer transitional pre-k to qualifying students whose families wish to enroll. However, the program is only available to children who will turn five:

• Between October and December for the 2013-2014 year
• Between September and December for the 2014-2015 year.

Democrats Propose Senate Bill 837: In January of 2014, California Senate Democrats proposed a bill that will expand upon the Kindergarten Readiness Act and make all 4 year olds eligible for transitional pre-k, phased in over the next five years. Similar to Oklahoma, the act also encourages partnerships and sets high standards for teacher credentials –- a bachelor degree plus 24 units of early childhood education will be required by 2019.

Once fully phased-in after five years, the program would cost $1 billion a year. In January of 2014, Governor Brown proposed increasing education funding by $10 billion in his 2014-2015 budget. Although his budget did not cite any specific levels of pre-k funding, he did say he would consider whatever legislators brought forward.