The Rand Corporation has released a new report "Strategies for Advancing Preschool Adequacy and Efficiency in California."
Among the reports key findings:
- Disadvantaged children, who are more likely to start school behind and stay behind, are also the least likely to attend high-quality preschool programs.
- California's underfunded preschool system serves only half the eligible three- and four-year-olds, and the system does not reward higher-quality providers.
- Increasing access to high-quality preschool for disadvantaged children can narrow existing achievement gaps.
- In the short term, California can allocate existing resources more efficiently and provide infrastructure supports for raising quality in the future.
- In the longer term, new resources should be used to expand access to and raise the quality of preschool programs for those who can benefit most.