Priska Neely|Early childhood advocates have been working for years ahead of the election to make sure the top candidates are thinking about the state's youngest constituents.
More state leaders are putting funding into preschool programs, but the quality of those programs isn't keeping pace with the quantity, according to a new report.
"Reading and play really does change the way your child approaches their feelings, their behavior and, ultimately, their readiness to learn," said researcher Alan Mendelsohn.
In L.A. County, black babies are three times more likely than white babies to die in the first year of life. The county has a new five-year action plan to reduce that disparity by 30 percent.
Participation in a program that aims to provide healthy meals to children in child care is dwindling. Advocates want the state to chip in more so providers will join.
Officials broke ground Tuesday on a 20,000-square-foot early learning center, right across from City Hall. It will serve infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
