LOS ANGELES –First 5 LA has released the following statement from Executive Director Kim Belshé responding to today’s announced proposal by Governor-elect Gavin Newsom to invest approximately $1.8 billion in child development programs to boost early learning and...

Early Childhood Matters Newsletter – December 2018
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What We’re Doing: December 2018
East Coast Pre–K: After introducing a package of bills to increase preschool access in the state (click here for more information on the bills), California Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, along with California Superintendent of Public Instruction-elect Tony Thurmond,...

Making the News: Early Childhood Educators, Compensation and Education
“Worthy work, unlivable wages,” is the phrase that comes to mind when thinking about the early care and education (ECE) workforce. According to the 2018 Early Childhood Workforce Index, the average wage of a California preschool teacher, entrusted by parents to care...

A First for First 5s: Advocating Together in D.C.
The voice of an organized group is powerful — especially if you represent the children and families in each of the 58 counties across the state of California. For the first time in First 5 history, representatives from nearly two dozen First 5s traveled jointly to...

New Learnings in Early Care and Education
“Let us sacrifice our today so...

Back-to-school optimism? Try finding child care, preschool
Nearly 3 million young parents across California confront long waiting lists and daunting costs By Kim Pattillo Brownson and Bruce Fuller Pristine optimism fills the air as our kids head back to school and start anew — a refreshing balm for blistering dog days of...

Comments in Response to Proposed Rulemaking: Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds
Submitted via www.regulations.gov Samantha Deshommes, Chief Regulatory Coordination Division U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Office of Policy and Strategy 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC...

We Must Build Strong Children
Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom has made early childhood development one of his signature issues. We at First 5 Los Angeles and First 5 organizations across California stand ready to help him turn that pledge into reality. The new governor’s goal of prioritizing funding for...

Record Low Birthrates and the Need to Invest in Childhood Development
California is facing an unprecedented demographic shift as our citizens are aging and birthrates are not keeping up. The Governor-elect and members of the State Legislature must prepare for this inevitable shift in population by prioritizing early childhood...