California's Investment in Universal Preschool: What's the Role for Research?

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

California’s 2021 historic budget has reshaped early learning policy in the state. In addition to making needed investments in expanding access and reforming rates in child care, the budget makes major changes to preschool education with the expansion of transitional kindergarten (TK) to all 4-year-olds. The expansion of transitional kindergarten and preschool is an enormous policy opportunity, and as districts begin to implement this new grade level, they will need support from the state, researchers, and advocates to support implementation. The objective of this symposium is for researchers to learn about the historic expansion of preschool and transitional kindergarten in California and encourage the development of policy-relevant research that supports access to high-quality early learning.

Sub Unit

• AERA Presidential Session

Chair

• Linda Darling-Hammond, Learning Policy Institute

Moderator

• Hanna Melnick, Learning Policy Institute

Panelists

• Rucker C. Johnson, University of California - Berkeley

• Kevin McCarty, California State Assembly Member

• Sarah Neville-Morgan, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education

• Deborah Stipek, Stanford University