Latino Access to Preschool Stalls - Declining State Capacity and Demographic Change

Expanding access to preschool has been one of the most effective policy initiatives by state and federal governments over the past generation. Studies show quality preschools serving children from poor families lift early learning. Families and government spend about $47 billion yearly on childcare and preschool. Public spending remains focused on youngsters from low-income households. The Great Recession and competing budget priorities such as health care and K-12 education have undercut government’s capacity to expand access to and lift the quality of preschools in California and the nation. Unless employment returns to pre-recession levels, state capacity will remain diminished. As state capacity to enrich early learning falters, growth in Latino child populations continues to climb. From 2005 to 2010, the number of Latino children under 18 years of age grew over 3% annually.