San Mateo

Introduction

San Mateo County is located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. The state government’s population bureau lists a January 1, 2006 estimate of 705,499. The county seat is Redwood City. The county bears the Spanish name for Saint Matthew.

San Mateo County was the first county in California to develop and implement an effort to make effective pre-kindergarten available to all its 3 and 4 year olds.  First 5 San Mateo County Commission, in collaboration with First 5 California, the County of San Mateo and the Packard Foundation has made a multi-year, multi-million dollar commitment to expand preschool opportunity to every child. The San Mateo County Office of Education serves as the lead agency to implement the program. Read more at the San Mateo Office of Education Preschool for All website.