Education

Early Childhood

June 16, 2004 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

California Pre-K

Actor and director Rob Reiner and the California Teachers Association have withdrawn a statewide tax initiative from the November ballot that would have earmarked some of the revenue for “universal” prekindergarten.

Huge opposition from the business community, as well as from within the ranks of early-childhood education itself, led Mr. Reiner and the CTA to take the action.

But the end of that campaign hasn’t stopped the moviemaker from pushing his pre-K agenda at the county level. Mr. Reiner helped kick off two new preschool initiatives in San Francisco and Santa Clara counties earlier this month.

“Preschool helps children develop better social and emotional skills,” Mr. Reiner said in a press release. “Studies consistently show it also helps them perform better for the rest of their lives.”

Money to help pay for the programs is coming from the Proposition 10 tobacco tax, sponsored by Mr. Reiner, that California voters approved in 1998. In addition to the statewide First 5—or Children and Families Commission—that Mr. Reiner chairs, each of California’s 58 counties has a local commission that oversees and appropriates local Proposition 10 revenues.

Over the next 10 years, the San Francisco First 5 commission plans to spend $155 million to implement prekindergarten.

Santa Clara County’s commission is dedicating $50 million over the next five years to phase in pre-K.

Similar efforts are also at various stages in several other counties, including San Mateo, Merced, and Sacramento.

The state commission’s “Preschool for All” effort is supporting the growth of local pre-K programs with planning grants in 12 counties.

Mr. Reiner first urged the Los Angeles First 5 commission in 2002 to use a portion of its money to pay for preschool programs.

Last year, the commission voted to spend $600 million over 10 years to bring free preschool to every 4-year-old in the county, about 153,000 boys and girls, regardless of family income. Now, the commission is deciding which communities have the greatest need for preschool facilities.

“L.A. offered us a good model to follow,” said Moira Kenney, the executive director of the San Francisco First 5 panel.

Universal preschool programs aim to serve all 4-year-olds or all 3- and 4-year-olds in a given area, but often help the neediest children first.

Linda Jacobson

A version of this article appeared in the June 16, 2004 edition of Education Week

Events

Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Social-Emotional Learning 2025: Examining Priorities and Practices
Join this free virtual event to learn about SEL strategies, skills, and to hear from experts on the use and expansion of SEL programs.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: February 5, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz News Quiz: Jan. 30, 2025: Interim Ed. Dept. Leader | Navigating Immigration Policies | Teacher Evaluations | And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP
Education Briefly Stated: January 29, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Jan. 23, 2025
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP