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First 5 LA Creates Agency to Implement New Univeral Preschool System

July 12, 2004
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Today's vote by First 5 LA's Board of Commissioners establishes Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LA-UP) – a nonprofit public benefit corporation – that will implement Universal Preschool in Los Angeles County. This agency will oversee day-to-day policymaking and operation of the most ambitious educational program in half a century in this county.

First 5 LA's Universal Preschool Initiative will provide access to quality early education for the 153,000 4-year-olds in Los Angeles County. The first programs will be funded in late 2004, with full implementation taking place gradually over a 10-year period.

Early childhood development experts have long known that most of a person's brain development occurs before age 5. New research shows that children who attended quality preschool programs perform better in math and language, are less likely to drop out of high school, and are more likely to attend college.

Today, only about 50 percent of the 4-year-olds in LA County are enrolled in some form of preschool. Of those that are enrolled in programs, only a fraction receives quality, professional services. This means that thousands of families every year are denied an opportunity to give their children the best start in life.

First 5 LA approved its Universal Preschool Initiative in August of 2002 with an initial commitment of $100 million over five years. In October 2003, that commitment was increased to $600 million over five years.

LA-UP will build the Universal Preschool system according to First 5 LA's Master Plan for Universal Preschool, which was approved by the Board in February of this year. The Plan was created through an inclusive Advisory Committee process that included the input of parents and stakeholders from education, government, business, philanthropy, childcare, community leaders, and research.

The Master Plan for Universal Preschool calls for a part-day preschool program with full-day wrap-around services for children.