It is the intent of the Legislature that:
(a) All families have equitable access to a high-quality preschool program, regardless of race or ethnic status, cultural, religious, or linguistic background, family composition, or children with exceptional needs. It is further the intent that subsidized preschool services be provided to persons meeting the eligibility criteria established under this chapter to the extent funding is made available by the Legislature and Congress.
(b) The physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth and development of preschool children be supported in a healthy, developmentally, and culturally appropriate manner.
(c) Families are supported to seek opportunities through employment, training, and education to attain financial stability, while maximizing learning opportunities for their children through participation in preschool programs.
(d) Local- and community-level coordination of various funding streams and programs to support preschool services and preschool to third-grade alignment.
(e) Programs allow for maximum involvement of families in planning, implementation, operation, and evaluation of preschool programs, recognizing that parent and family engagement is integral to the well-being of the child.
(f) Parents and families be fully informed of their rights and responsibilities to evaluate the quality and safety of preschool programs, including, but not limited to, their right to inspect childcare licensing files.
(g) Planning for expansion of preschool programs based on ongoing, coordinated, and comprehensive local needs assessments and other state-level data.
(h) Support for staff, including administrators, program directors, site supervisors, and teachers, to reduce bias through professional development opportunities.
(i) Investments in preschool programs be leveraged to improve equity and reduce the opportunity gap through a targeted universalism approach.
(j) Preschool programs provide fully inclusive early learning experiences that contribute to closing the school readiness gap, especially for children from low-income families, children with exceptional needs, and children who are dual language learners, and partner with elementary schools to support smooth transitions and sustain early learning gains.
(k) The Superintendent of Public Instruction, in providing funding to agencies offering preschool programs, promote a range of services that will allow parents the opportunity to choose the type of care most suited to their needs. The program scope may include the following:
(1) Programs located in childcare centers or family childcare homes.
(2) Services provided part day or full day.
(l) The Superintendent of Public Instruction be responsible for the establishment of a public hearing process or other public input process that ensures the participation of those agencies directly affected by a particular section or sections of this chapter.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 116, Sec. 4. (AB 131) Effective July 23, 2021.)