Public safety can’t wait: California’s preschool shortage, a missed opportunity for crime prevention

Quality preschool programs lay the foundation for children’s success, providing critical academic and social skills. These benefits extend well beyond preparing young children for kindergarten. They help children succeed in school and in life and prevent future crime and violence.

However, California is falling short in making preschool available, particularly to children from families who cannot afford preschool on their own. Too many of the at-risk children who would benefit the most from preschool programs line up to get into preschools, only to be turned away. Due to under funding, they are left languishing on long waiting lists and left out of valuable preschool experiences.