Research + Resources

Latest Publications

Nonprofit Preschools Shrink as Transitional Kindergarten Grows in California: Building Capacity to Serve Younger Children

2026
Expanding on earlier research focused on Los Angeles County, this new statewide update from E3C examines how California’s rapid expansion of transitional kindergarten (TK) is reshaping the early learning landscape. TK now serves more than half of the state’s 4-year-olds, representing...Read more about Nonprofit Preschools Shrink as Transitional Kindergarten Grows in California: Building Capacity to Serve Younger Children

Dispelling Common Myths in Instructional Improvement: Sustaining and Improving Early Childhood Instruction Together

2026

Developed with 21CSLA (21st Century California School Leadership Academy), this brief challenges common assumptions about instructional leadership in the era of Universal Transitional Kindergarten. The authors identify four persistent myths and offer a clear call to action: improving early...Read more about Dispelling Common Myths in Instructional Improvement: Sustaining and Improving Early Childhood Instruction Together

When the Playground Was Coated in Ash: The Impact of the January 2025 Wildfires on Los Angeles Child Care Programs

2026

The January 2025 wildfires, considered the most catastrophic in the history of Los Angeles County, left many child care facilities covered in smoke and ash. This report shows that child care programs bore the cost of cleaning up and making their environments safe after the firestorms. While few...Read more about When the Playground Was Coated in Ash: The Impact of the January 2025 Wildfires on Los Angeles Child Care Programs

Zero to Three: A Vision for Universal Child Care in California

2026

This policy brief from UC Berkeley Equity and Excellence in Early Childhood and UC Irvine Center for Population, Inequality and Policy outlines a practical, systems-level vision for achieving universal child care for California’s youngest children. The authors document structural failures in the...Read more about Zero to Three: A Vision for Universal Child Care in California

Making California’s Early Childhood Investments Work for Families

2026

This PACE commentary highlights how California’s historic early childhood investments can more fully support families through stronger implementation and alignment. Drawing on RAPID Survey data and UC Berkeley research, the authors identify three priorities for action: simplifying governance,...Read more about Making California’s Early Childhood Investments Work for Families

Pre-K Pivot? How Preschools Shift to Younger Children in Los Angeles

2025

This brief examines the implementation of transitional kindergarten (TK) in Los Angeles County and finds steady TK growth, particularly in more distant and economically better-off suburbs. At the same time, strong evidence shows that children benefit when they enter high-quality preschool at age...Read more about Pre-K Pivot? How Preschools Shift to Younger Children in Los Angeles

What Works for Universal Preschool in Los Angeles? Whittier’s Dual-Language Classrooms

2025

This brief profiles Whittier’s Phelan Language Academy, where joyful, well-structured dual-language transitional kindergarten (TK) classrooms support children’s bilingualism, cultural identity, and early literacy. With skilled teachers and strong district coaching, students develop preliteracy...Read more about What Works for Universal Preschool in Los Angeles? Whittier’s Dual-Language Classrooms

All Publications

Title Author Year Publication type
Nonprofit Preschools Shrink as Transitional Kindergarten Grows in California: Building Capacity to Serve Younger Children Qifan Zhang; Austin Land; Narayan Raju; Lauren Seiji; Bruce Fuller 2026 Research Update
Dispelling Common Myths in Instructional Improvement: Sustaining and Improving Early Childhood Instruction Together Rebecca Cheung; Chris Thomas; Aija Simmons 2026 Leadership Brief
When the Playground Was Coated in Ash: The Impact of the January 2025 Wildfires on Los Angeles Child Care Programs Wanzi Muruvi; Elena Ojeda; Carly Hyland; Anna Powell; Abby Copeman Petig 2026 Report
Zero to Three: A Vision for Universal Child Care in California Jade Jenkins; Austin Land 2026 Policy Brief
Making California’s Early Childhood Investments Work for Families Katie Albright; Abigail Stewart-Kahn 2026 Commentary
Pre-K Pivot? How Preschools Shift to Younger Children in Los Angeles Bruce Fuller; Austin Land; Qifan Zhang 2025 Policy Brief
What Works for Universal Preschool in Los Angeles? Whittier’s Dual-Language Classrooms Bruce Fuller; Roberta Gonzalez 2025 Policy Brief