Early Learning Advocacy Day 2010

Early Learning Advocacy Day was held in Sacramento on July 15 and is being hailed as a great success, with more than 350 early learning supporters from across the state—including teachers and providers, parents, business leaders and others –who came to the state Capitol to advocate for high-quality early care and education programs. Participants including a well represented group from Fresno County met with more than 100 state legislators and staff members to share their stories about how high-quality early learning programs have benefited California’s children, families and communities. View Early Learning Advocacy Day photos and download materials.

In this time of unprecedented fiscal crisis, Early Learning Advocacy Day, hosted by the California Association for the Education of Young Children and Preschool California and co-sponsored by 60 organizations, showcased the strength of our coalition of early care and education supporters. Advocates spoke with one voice to tell legislators that in these tough economic times, high-quality early learning programs are a critical long-term investment for California.

Earlier in the day, supporters heard from an impressive lineup of early learning speakers, including current State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, Santa Clara County Superintendent Charles Weis, State Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Larry Aceves and Donita Stromgren of the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network. Guest speakers Assemblymember Joan Buchanan, Assemblymember Julia Brownley and Senator Carol Liu reiterated the importance of California’s early care and education programs and asked advocates to remind their legislators that “our children are worth fighting for.” The two delegations from Fresno County were able to meet with our local representatives: Senator Dean Florez, Assemblyman Juan Arambula, Assemblyman Chinook Shin, and Assemblyman Mike Villines.In addition, Wilma Hashimoto, FCOE associate director of Early Care and Education was an invited guest speaker who showcased the Special Needs/Foster Youth articulation plan which was hailed as an innovative and inclusive preschool plan for our most vulnerable ECE population.