Skip to main content
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact

Search form

American Institutes for Research

  • Our Work
    • Education
    • Health
    • International
    • Workforce
    • ALL TOPICS >
  • Our Services
    • Research and Evaluation
    • Technical Assistance
  • Our Experts
  • News & Events

You are here

  • Home

Impact of COVID-19 on Early Learning and Care in California

Project

Image of teacher showing art to an online audience

The early learning and care system in California provides one of the state’s most critical services: supporting children’s early learning and development while enabling parents to work. But the COVID-19 crisis has taken a toll on this system, and early learning providers need more support. In order to understand the ways in which programs have adapted, the services they provide, and the challenges they face during COVID-19, AIR and Early Edge California collected data from early learning programs throughout the state of California.

The following briefs describe what researchers from AIR and Early Edge California learned.

Supporting Child Care Providers and the Dual Language Learners They Serve During the COVID-19 Crisis: Insights From a Statewide Survey

January 2021

Read the full brief (PDF) >>
Read a two-page summary (PDF) >>

Supporting Child Care Providers and the Dual Language Learners They Serve During the COVID-19 Crisis: Insights From a Statewide Survey builds on findings from the two earlier briefs (see below). Findings show how sites were offering a range of services including virtual learning, activities to help parents support their children’s learning at home, and resources to support social and emotional development for children. For DLLs, the widespread program closures, reductions in enrollment for in-person learning, and a shift to virtual learning have come with added challenges and lower rates of participation.

A System in Jeopardy: California's Early Learning System and its Dual Language Learners During the COVID-19 Pandemic

September 2020

Read the full report (PDF) >>
Read a two-page summary (PDF) >>

A System in Jeopardy: California's Early Leaming System and its Dual Language Learners During the COVID-19 Pandemic presents findings from a survey of a representative sample of early learning and care programs across the state. The findings reveal major shifts in program operations and sustainability due to COVID-19, with many programs closing or facing reduced enrollment and financial challenges. Results also highlight the ways in which DLLs have been disproportionately left out of care during the pandemic—a significant concern given how much they benefit from early learning experiences. In addition, we describe programs' urgent needs for funding, health and safety resources, and guidance in order to reopen and/or sustain services going forward.

California’s Early Learning and Care Providers: Essential Workers Who Need Support

June 2020

Read the full report (PDF) >>
Read a two-page summary (PDF) >>

California’s Early Learning and Care Providers: Essential Workers Who Need Support presents findings from seven focus groups, consisting of 32 Early Learning providers who work in a variety of settings across the state. The study found that while providers are committed, resilient, and doing their best, the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic have been extraordinary, and providers urgently need additional support. Based on conversations with Early Learning and Care providers across the state, the brief recommends actions to maintain and strengthen California’s Early Learning system.

This work was supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation and the American Institutes for Research.

A System in Jeopardy: California's Early Learning System and its Dual Language Learners During the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF)
Summary: A System in Jeopardy: California's Early Learning System and its Dual Language Learners During the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF, 2 pages)
California’s Early Learning and Care Providers: Essential Workers Who Need Support (PDF)
Summary: California’s Early Learning and Care Providers (PDF, 2 pages)

Related Work

Image of Hispanic family reading together at home
3 Dec 2020
In the Field

Strategies for Supporting Young Students’ Home-Language Development During COVID-19—and Beyond

With COVID-19 still affecting in-person education across the country, early childhood educators have had to find new ways to give students, especially those who are dual-language learners, early, rich linguistic experiences. AIR Senior Researcher Lisa Hsin describes a number of ways early childhood educators can help families foster their children’s home language development, while also preparing them to succeed when they’re back in the classroom.
View all
Share

Contact

Heather Quick

Managing Researcher
Image of Rebecca Bergey

Rebecca Bergey

Senior Researcher

Topics

Education
Early Childhood and Child Development
English Learners

Related Resources

AIR’s COVID-19 Response and Resources

Related Center

The Center for English Learners (ELs) at AIR

RESEARCH. EVALUATION. APPLICATION. IMPACT.

About Us

About AIR
Board of Directors
Leadership
Experts
Clients
Contracting with AIR
Contact Us

Our Work

Education
Health
International
Workforce

Client Services

Research and Evaluation
Technical Assistance

News & Events

Careers at AIR


Search form


 

Connecting

FacebookTwitterLinkedinYouTubeInstagram

American Institutes for Research

1400 Crystal Drive, 10th Floor
Arlington, VA 22202-3289
Call: (202) 403-5000
Fax: (202) 403-5000

Copyright © 2021 American Institutes for Research®.  All rights reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap