Policy Pick: LAUSD Approves $40 Million for ECE Facilities

The funding was part of a larger $513 million facilities item approved with a 5-2 vote of the LAUSD board on Jan. 25. The money will be spent on new slots for children, as well as renovations to existing facilities. According to the Advancement Project, this is one of the largest allotment LAUSD has ever made for facilities of this type.

The Advancement Project and its partners,  Preschool California (also a co-grantee), California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Universal Preschool and Public Counsel, worked for more than two years researching a source for the funds and discussing with LAUSD officials the importance of early care and education on the future success of children K-12 and later in life.

"When at-risk kids don't have opportunities for early learning, they are placed in the unfair position of having to play ‘catch-up.' This funding represents a great victory for young children because this investment in ECE facilities will ensure that the highest-need kids have an equal opportunity to learn and thrive," stated Kim Pattillo Brownson, associate director for Education at the Advancement Project.

Through its research, the Advancement Project identified tens of thousands of young, at-risk children who lack access to early care and education programs. The organization was also able to target the actual neighborhoods where these children live, allowing policy-makers to see the gaps posed by a lack of these facilities.

"The Los Angeles Unified School District's decision to invest $40 million to enhance and build early learning facilities is a victory for the 38,000 children that the district serves between the ages of birth to 5," said Araceli Sandoval-Gonzalez, Preschool California's deputy field director. "By increasing access to high-quality early learning programs, LAUSD has a golden opportunity to ensure children are ready to learn and succeed in school, compete in the global economy and contribute to thriving communities."

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