State Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) discuss early childhood education. (photo courtesy of the office of Assemblyman Miguel Santiago)

On Aug. 8, Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted a historic investment in early childhood education of more than $2 billion in this year’s budget, and his commitment to creating and implementing a master plan for early education to ensure that all children in California have the critical foundation they need for healthy development and learning in the earliest years.

The $2 billion immediately expands California children’s access to quality education and health care, funds a two-generation strategy that invests in parents so they can invest in their children and eases some of the financial pressures on parents to help them provide opportunities for their children and achieve economic security for their families.

“Investing in our youngest Californians is the best investment we can make, and I made a commitment to support the youngest Californians and their parents so that they can get a quality education, good health care and other things they need to have successful lives,” Newsom said.

Specifically, the 2019-20 state budget included $300 million for full-day kindergarten facilities and addressing barriers to full-day kindergarten programs, $5 million to develop a long-term master plan for early learning and care, $143.3 million to increase access to subsidized child care for 12,400 income eligible children ages 12 and under, and funding for many more programs.

The budget also expanded California’s paid family leave program from six weeks to eight weeks for each parent, so that children can be cared for by a parent for the first four months of the child’s life, making progress toward the governor’s goal of ensuring that parents have access to paid family leave for six months.

While in Los Angeles, Newsom toured the Hope Street Family Center, which provides resources in health, education and recreation to more than 5,000 children every year. He was joined by state Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) and California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, young students and teachers.

“One of the biggest struggles for working families is securing affordable childcare and education,” Santiago said. “Many in my district cannot afford to place their children in childcare programs. If they can, there are long wait periods before they can get a slot. I am proud to work with a governor who has prioritized early childcare and education. There is still much work to be done to ensure every child has an opportunity to learn, grow and thrive in California.”

“We need to be innovative, creative and visionary by imagining the early learning and care system we want for families and children, especially when one in five children live in poverty in our state. That is inexcusable, and we need to be doing more,” added Newsom.