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SENATOR LEYVA: Universal Preschool Bill Graduates From Senate Education Committee

Kids Konnect Preschools — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 16:22:51 GMT

The Senate Education Committee has passed the bill by Senator Connie M. Leyva, and pushed by Makinya Ward, Founder and Director at Kids Konnect, along with CQEL and UP Now (Universal Preschool), that will introduce universal preschool in California.

Sponsored by the Child Care Resource Center, EveryChild California, First 5 California and the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network, the Bill ensures that parents have the option to send their children to a public elementary school provider or a community-based childcare provider to benefit from universal preschool.

This is something Kids Konnect has been advocating for in our mission to make childcare affordable for every family.

Last year, the Governor Newsome approved bill SB 130. SB 130 will establish transitional kindergarten (TK). This means public elementary schools would exclusively teach TK. The new bill, SB 976, builds on SB 130 and enables families to choose a preschool suitable for their needs.

The new bill will also provide much needed stability to community-based childcare providers and their employees – many of whom are women of color.

SB 976 will be considered by the Senate in the coming months.

SENATOR LEYVA: Working Families Need True Access to Universal Preschool

Kids Konnect Preschools — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 17:25:42 GMT

Makinya Ward, Founder and Director at Kids Konnect, has been working the CQEL and UP Now (Universal Preschool) on a bill that will expand educational and developmental opportunities for young children. Senator Connie M. Leyva has introduced legislation SB 976. If successful, the bill will establish universal preschool in California, and give parents the choice of public elementary schools or a community-based childcare provider. This is something Kids Konnect is been advocating for in our mission to make childcare affordable for every family.

SB 976 will amend the current transitional kindergarten (TK) bill (SB 130) approved by the Governor in 2021. SB 130 means public elementary schools would exclusively teach TK. SB 976 builds on SB 130 and enables families to choose a preschool suitable for their needs. The new bill will also provide much needed stability to community-based childcare providers and their employees – many of whom are women of color.

SB 976 will be considered at a senate policy committee later in the Spring.

EDSOURCE: How the Biden administration will impact California’s child care crisis

Kids Konnect Preschools — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:26:47 GMT

Makinya Ward, Founder and Director at Kids Konnect, appeared in an article in EdSource about how President Biden's proposed federal child care plans would impact California's child care crisis.

EDSOURCE: Will Biden's reconciliation bill transform early childhood education?

staff@kids-konnect.com (Makinya Ward) — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 16:12:00 GMT

After President Biden revealed his reconciliation bill, Kids Konnect director Makinya Ward spoke to EdSource about how the plan to transform early childhood education is coming at the right time.

EDSOURCE: Should California offer transitional kindergarten to all 4-year-olds?

Kids Konnect Preschools — Thu, 13 May 2021 22:30:00 GMT

Makinya Ward, Founder and Director at Kids Konnect, appeared in an article in EdSource to talk about how the California government's proposed plans to offer transitional kindergarten to all 4-year-olds feels like a slap in the face after the pandemic.

EDSOURCE: Amid pandemic, infants especially need quality child care, reformers say

Kids Konnect Preschools — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 16:30:00 GMT

Makinya Ward, Founder and Director at Kids Konnect, appeared alongside other reformers in an article in EdSource about how child care needs to be prioritized as part of California's COVID-19 pandemic.

EDSOURCE: What the federal stimulus bill means to California's child care sector

staff@kids-konnect.com (Makinya Ward) — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 17:21:00 GMT

Read here to learn more about how Kids Konnect believes the federal stimulus bill will impact the child care sector in California.

EDSOURCE: How will expanded transitional kindergarten roll out?

Kids Konnect Preschools — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 10:30:00 GMT

Makinya Ward, Founder and Director at Kids Konnect, spoke to spoke to EdSource about California's plan to expand transitional kindergarten to all 4-year-olds in the state. While supportive of affordable and universal child care in California, Makinya feels the proposals don't involve private child care centers.