Activity 2: Statewide Strategic Plan

During PDG-I in 2019, the team developed a statewide strategic plan to deepen and operationalize a range of previous recommendations for improving the state’s early learning and care (ELC) system and ensuring increased access to quality ELC services for children of diverse needs. Over the next three years that followed with PDG-R, the team developed the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care (MPELC) to build on the PDG strategic planning with long-term administrative and financing strategies and to achieve a comprehensive, equitable mixed-delivery ELC system. In PDG-P, the team will provide an update on the strategic plan.

Activity 2: Statewide Strategic Plan (PDG-I)

Category: Infrastructure

Status: Complete

During the PDG-I in 2019, the team built on previous and current efforts to develop recommendations for improving the state’s early learning and care (ELC) system. WestEd worked with key stakeholder groups to synthesize existing plans, strategically engage experts and stakeholders to deepen and operationalize recommendations on several priority areas, and complete a detailed strategic plan that, over time, will enable the ELC system to increase access to quality services for children of diverse needs throughout California.

Start Date: 2/1/2019

End Date: 12/30/2019

Final Report—December 2019: PDG-I Statewide Strategic Plan ADA

Partners:

  • WestEd

Activity 2: Statewide Strategic Plan (PDG-R)

Category: Families

Status: Complete

WestEd developed the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care (Master Plan) to build on the initial Preschool Development Grant–Renewal (PDG-R) strategic planning with long-term administrative and financing strategies to achieve a comprehensive, equitable, mixed-delivery early learning and care system.

To support the Master Plan’s goals and actions, the progress on the Master Plan recommendations was continuously monitored and aligned with the PDG-R implementations.

Start Date: 1/1/2020

End Date: 12/31/2023

Partners:

  • California Department of Education (CDE)
  • WestEd

Activity 2a: Develop Master Plan (PDG-R)

Category: Providers

Status: Complete

In November 2019, the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) engaged a team of researchers led by WestEd to develop a roadmap that put into action past recommendations and research about the benefits of quality early learning and care (ELC). The team was tasked with addressing five substantive, interrelated issue areas within California’s ELC system:

  • Access
  • Quality
  • Universal preschool
  • Facilities
  • Financing

In December 2020, California released the governor’s Master Plan for Early Learning and Care: California for All Kids (Master Plan). The Master Plan encompasses research, policy, and practice to provide California with a roadmap for expanding equitable access to services and improving the quality of ELC.

The Master Plan has helped the state better understand the crisis families, children, and providers have faced amid and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. It also supports the state to identify key policy goals that will ensure all California’s children are able to thrive physically, emotionally, and educationally in their early years through access to high-quality ELC programs.

The Master Plan goals include universal preschool, enhanced workforce development and equitable career pathways for educators and caregivers, and funding reforms to promote equitable access to high-quality ELC opportunities.

The Master Plan can be found here.

The Master Plan for Early Learning and Care gratefully acknowledges the work of policymakers, providers, professionals, teachers, caregivers, researchers, and parents to elevate the needs and opportunities to support the development and learning of young children. We are especially grateful to the Assembly Blue Ribbon Commission for setting forth a transformative vision with recommendations that are a touchstone for the Master Plan and to the many other working groups and task forces that clarified problems and offered creative solutions.

Start Date: 1/6/2020
End Date: 12/30/2020

Partners:

  • American Institutes for Research (AIR)
  • California Health and Human Services (CalHHS)
  • Child Trends
  • The Neimand Collaborative
  • WestEd

Activity 2b: Monitor Strategic Planning Implementation (PDG-R)

Category: Infrastructure

Status: Complete

The PDG team established ongoing systems to monitor implementation of the Master Plan and strategic plan and aligned and updated the strategic plan as needed.

Start Date: 1/4/2021

End Date: 12/31/2023

Last Updates:

The PDG team conducted monthly and bimonthly meetings with partners, as well as bimonthly and quarterly leadership meetings, to monitor PDG partner implementation progress and continued alignment with the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care.

Partners:

  • WestEd

Activity 2: Statewide Strategic Plan Executive Summary (PDG-P)

Category: Infrastructure

Status: In Progress

The PDG team will provide a high-level update on the strategic plan activities, lessons learned, and impact on future planning. The update will also include a crosswalk of PDG milestones as it relates to the strategic plan for California which is the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care.

Start Date: 1/1/2022

End Date: 12/30/2024

Deliverables:

Partners:

  • WestEd