Preschool

Preschool In California

Last Updated Nov 20, 2008 03:33 PM

The Budget Act of 2003 appropriated $2.2 billion for the California Department of Education's (CDE), Child Development Programs in a mix of 53 percent state funds and 47 percent federal funds. This amount represents a 3.7 percent decrease from the previous year. Over 2,000 contracts are dispersed through approximately 850 public and private agencies statewide to support and provide services to more than 584,000 children.

General Child Care and Development

General child care and development programs are state and federally funded programs that use centers and family child care home networks operated or administered by either public or private agencies and local educational agencies. These agencies provide child development services for children from birth through 12 years of age and older children with exceptional needs. These programs provide an educational component that is developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate for the children served. The programs also provide meals and snacks to children, parent education, referrals to health and social services for families, and staff development opportunities to employees.

Migrant Child Care and Development

Migrant child care and development programs serve the children of agricultural workers while their parents are at work. The centers are open for varying lengths of time during the year, depending largely on the harvest activities in the area. In addition to these center-based programs, the budget for fiscal year 2003-04 continues to provide for the Migrant Alternative Payment Network Program that allows eligibility and funding for services that follow migrant families as they move from place to place to find work in the Central Valley.

Campus Child Care and Development

Campus child care and development programs are intended primarily to care for the children of parents enrolled in college. The centers are typically operated by either student associations or the college administration and provide the same comprehensive services as general child care and development programs.

State Preschool

State preschool programs are part-day comprehensive developmental programs for three- to five-year-old children from low-income families. The programs emphasize parent education and encourage parent involvement. In addition to preschool education activities that are developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate for the children served, the state preschool programs provide meals or snacks to children, referrals to health and social services for families, and staff development opportunities to employees. These programs are administered through local educational agencies, colleges, community-action agencies, and private nonprofit agencies.

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