First 5 LA Approves Master Plan for Landmark Universal Preschool InitiativeFebruary 12, 2004 |
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| Following an unprecedented community outreach effort, First 5 LA presents the details of its $600 million effort to provide access to preschool to children in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles, CA – First 5 LA's Board of Commissioners today approved a far-reaching Master Plan for Universal Preschool that aims, within the next 10 years, to offer high-quality preschool to every four-year-old child in Los Angeles County whose parents choose to participate. First 5 LA has already committed $600 million to begin implementation of the Plan. Universal Preschool will begin early launch activities this fall and quickly expand each year, building on the existing infrastructure of early education programs including Head Start, child care and California State preschool. The new system will increase the equity of access of early education facilities by prioritizing new investments in 13 "hot zones" across the county where unmet needs are the greatest. Current estimates indicate that more than 100,000 of the county's three and four-year-olds do not receive early care and education services, and this does not include those receiving low quality or infrequent services. "Today's vote marks a major turning point in our commitment to create a better future for every child in Los Angeles County," said Evelyn V. Martinez, executive director of First 5 LA. "Universal Preschool puts LA County at the forefront of a national movement to give quality early education to our young children." The Universal Preschool system will provide high-quality part-day preschool with an optional full-day child care component. The program will be voluntary and accessible for both parents and providers. Universal Preschool will respond to the diversity of children and families in Los Angeles County by offering: • Curricula that address children's individual needs in the areas of creative, cognitive, social, emotional, physical/motor and health development. • Classroom teaching that is culturally and linguistically appropriate, with plans for a duallanguage curriculum. | • Approaches that respond to the needs of children with disabilities and other special needs to the maximum extent feasible. • Opportunities for family involvement that are integral to the program. The new system will also create a five-star quality rating system that helps parents make informed decisions when choosing preschool for their children. Additionally, the Plan calls for a majority of classroom teachers to have AA or BA degrees by 2014. |
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