The Senate Education Committee has passed the bill by Senator Connie M. Leyva, and pushed by Makinya Ward, Founder and Director at Kids Konnect, along with CQEL and UP Now (Universal Preschool), that will introduce universal preschool in California.
Sponsored by the Child Care Resource Center, EveryChild California, First 5 California and the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network, the Bill ensures that parents have the option to send their children to a public elementary school provider or a community-based childcare provider to benefit from universal preschool.
This is something Kids Konnect has been advocating for in our mission to make childcare affordable for every family.
Last year, the Governor Newsome approved bill SB 130. SB 130 will establish transitional kindergarten (TK). This means public elementary schools would exclusively teach TK. The new bill, SB 976, builds on SB 130 and enables families to choose a preschool suitable for their needs.
The new bill will also provide much needed stability to community-based childcare providers and their employees – many of whom are women of color.
SB 976 will be considered by the Senate in the coming months.
Makinya Ward is CEO of Kids Konnect Infant Care and Preschools and is a board member CQEL.