Early Childhood Education and CareEarly Childhood Education and Care

KQED’s early childhood education and care reporting beat covers early childhood development policy and practices in the Bay Area and across California. We tell the stories of community members, especially marginalized families and workers, who are most affected by policies aimed at addressing early education and child care.

A young Latina woman working with kids in a classroom.

Feds Plan Higher Pay for Head Start Teachers Amid Severe Staff Shortage

Four children play on a playground.

California Head Start Families Face Transit Challenges, A New Map Shows

A person with long hair smiles and leans against a wall.

How a California Child Care Workers' Union Fought for Living Wages — and Won

An adult hugs and kisses a child while two other young people do a puzzle in an outdoor setting.

A Child Care Center's Possible Closure Shows Dire Shortage in Marin County

A woman wearing a yellow shirt and black masks leans over a table with small children to draw on a piece of paper in front of a blonde haired child.

Newsom Signs Legislation Investing $2 Billion in Publicly Funded Child Care

A person holds out a black, green, yellow and red striped graduation stole with the words "Class of 2023" written on it.

How San Francisco Is Graduating More Black Early Educators — and Why It Matters

An older woman with gray and brown braids and a rainbow, tie-dye T-shirt reads to a group of children in her living room. Many colorful bins are in the background filled to the brim with toys.

California Close to Launching $80 Billion Child Care Worker Retirement Fund

Cropped shot of an unrecognizable little girl washing her hands at home

1 in 4 California Child Care Centers That Responded to First State Testing Requirement Had Unsafe Lead Levels in Drinking Water

A Black woman kneels down to speak to a young child.

How a Local Tax Is Keeping Much-Needed Child Care in San Francisco Affordable

A woman wearing a construction uniform poses with a certificate in both hands as a person takes a picture with other people in construction uniforms stand behind her.

The Construction Industry Wants to Hire More Women, but Child Care ‘Barriers’ Are Getting in the Way

Three kids sit on the floor as they listen to their classroom teacher.

Universal Preschool's Off to a Bumpy Start, but East San José Is Seeing Success. Here's Why

A young girl speaks into a microphone in front of a large banner.

Oakland School Board Halts Controversial Closure Plan, Sparing 5 Elementary Schools

KQED’s early childhood education and care reporting is supported by a grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
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